The San Diego Blood Bank, a non-profit independent blood center serving patients in more than 50 hospitals in the Southern California region, has presented Grossmont College with a “Partners 4 Life” award based on the college’s participation in hosting blood drives held at Grossmont’s Main Quad area in the middle of campus. It is the seventh consecutive year the Blood Bank has presented Grossmont College with a congratulatory award for blood collection efforts. The award states: “In recognition of your dedication, commitment and support to the community; outstanding performance and over-achievement of blood collection.”
In 2011, Grossmont College hosted the San Diego Blood Bank’s Bloodmobile on 10 occasions, resulting in 420 pints collected and 151 donors who were first-timers, said Leslie Eagan, Blood Bank spokesperson. Grossmont’s pint total for 2011 was a record, exceeding the 2010 total of 326 pints.
San Diego Blood Bank officials credit Juliette Harrington, a student health services specialist at Grossmont College’s Student Health Services office, with recruiting donors and student volunteers and raising awareness about the importance of donating blood. Eagan said one pint of blood can benefit about three hospital patients, which means the college last year helped as many as 1,260 individuals whose lives depended on donated blood.
The Blood Bank also said Grossmont College’s pint collection total in 2011 also was among the highest of any educational institution in San Diego County, compared to San Diego City College (12 blood drives, 406 pints), Southwestern College (8 blood drives, 453 pints), Cuyamaca College (4 drives, 128 pints) and Mesa College (2 drives, 126 pints).
