News Release May 27, 2008

Contact:
Julie Scott

303.361.2873
Bonfils Blood Center

Southern Colorado Donors, Volunteers, Community Partners Recognized

PUEBLO, Colo. (May 27, 2008) – As Bonfils Blood Center continues celebrating 65 years of serving as Colorado’s community blood center, we pause to thank southern Colorado community members for their contributions to our success. Scores of high-gallon blood donors, blood drive hosts, volunteers, financial contributors and community partners will be recognized with an appreciation reception Monday, June 2 from 5:30 to 7 p.m. at Pueblo’s Sangre de Cristo Arts & Conference Center, located at 210 N. Santa Fe Avenue.

Honorees will also hear from Pueblo’s St. Mary-Corwin Medical Center President and CEO Michael J. Stenger. For nearly 20 years, Bonfils Blood Center has been the sole provider of blood products to St. Mary-Corwin. Stenger’s remarks will focus on the integral partnership between the two entities, the importance of a safe and adequate blood supply for our community and gratitude to all who support Bonfils’ mission of saving and enhancing lives.

The accomplishments of more than 600 blood donors who reached donation milestones of five gallons or more over the last 12 months will be acknowledged. Bonfils will also honor its blood drive hosts, liaisons and volunteers along with financial contributors and community partners that have provided leadership, time, energy and monetary gifts over the past year.

Six special awards will be given to those who have shown exemplary commitment to the mission and vision of Bonfils Blood Center:

Community Partner Award– Presented to The Citadel Mall of Colorado Springs, Colo. which has partnered with Bonfils to host blood drives since 2006. This blood drive program continues to grow by number of drives hosted (now 10 per year) and number of units collected (an increase of 225 percent over the last 12 months).
Foundation Leadership Award – Presented to Colorado Springs’ El Pomar Foundation for supporting a number of the blood center’s key initiatives including a grant award to fund capital improvements to Bonfils’ headquarter facility in back in 1995 and most recently funding to support the acquisition of a new bloodmobile to assist our mobile blood collections program.
Youth Service Award – Presented to Alexa Major, who, at just 14 years old, has coordinated the Clover Leaf 4-H in Fowler, Colo. for the last two years. Her leadership, organizational skills and great spirit have helped facilitated the collection of more than 75 units of blood.
Liaison of the Year Award – Presented to Susan Miller for her six years of service in coordinating the Buena Vista Community Blood Drive. In 2007 the community’s six blood drives yielded more than 450 blood donations. Miller successfully garnered participation and support from local high schools and businesses including both blood and in-kind donations.
Volunteer Organization of the Year Award– Presented to The Promenade Shops at Briargate for two years of outstanding partnership. The Colorado Springs open-air mall offers prime placement to Bonfils’ bloodmobile and regularly promotes drives to mall retailers and shoppers through email and Web site communications.
Outstanding Blood DriveGrowth Award – Presented to Mesa Lagree’s Food Store for increasing donations by 600 percent over a 12-month period. The convenient location of this drive provides unmatched visibility and remarkable foot traffic. To that end, Lagree’s and Bonfils grew the blood drive program from one blood drive 2006 to a total of six per year in 2008.

Bonfils Blood Center celebrates 65 years of saving lives through its ongoing stewardship of the community blood supply and the instrumental role it continues to play in the lives of patients in need throughout Colorado and beyond. Bonfils Blood Center supplies blood to more than 200 healthcare facilities and needs to collect more than 4,000 blood donations weekly to meet the needs of the community and to be prepared for any unexpected events. For information about Bonfils Blood Center please call 303.366.2000 or visit www.bonfils.org.