20th Annual Carolina Blood Drive
June 3rd at the Dean E. Smith Center
7:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m.
Sponsored by: the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Human Resources, Student Stores, Athletics, a Committee from across campus, Printing Services, and the American Red Cross
HOW IT BEGAN AND OUR GOAL IN 2008
Thanks to all of our Carolina colleagues for making the Carolina Blood Drive one of the largest and longest standing blood drives in the Carolinas Region of the American Red Cross. Since its inception, more than 19,600 units of blood have been collected from more than 21,600 donors.
The drive is truly a remarkable event that is pulled together each year by dedicated volunteers from across the entire campus. From the planning committee, to the recruiters, to the donors, to the volunteers, the campus has come together every year for the past 20 years to give our community, our state and our region that precious gift of life that has allowed countless thousands to live another day and share another smile.
For those who weren't around and involved 20 years ago when the drive began, the following is a brief history of the drive, and what it has taken to make it happen.
The Carolina Blood Drive -- originally known as the University-Wide Blood Drive -- began in 1989 at the behest of Chancellor Paul Hardin, who was well aware of the critical need for blood during the summer months when most of the students were away and many faculty and staff were on vacation. The chancellor contacted Human Resources with the idea, and Mike Lewis with Employee Relations arranged a meeting with the American Red Cross and the Physical Plant (now Facilities Services), which he was ultimately not able to attend. The meeting was held at the Physical Plant, and in addition to American Red Cross representatives, those who attended were Herb Paul, Physical Plant director, and Ed Phillips, Physical Plant business manager.
The American Red Cross talked about holding a drive that was similar to the many student drives held throughout the academic year in the Great Hall of the Student Union, with a goal of collecting 75 to 100 units of blood. But Phillips, who had helped Herb Paul recruit donors for a couple of Kiwanis blood drives at a local church, suggested that if recruiters were placed in each of the 100 or so major buildings on campus and they could recruit at least five donors each, the drive might produce close to 500 units of blood.
After that first meeting, Lewis got involved, and he connected Phillips with Pamela Billings, administrative manager for physical education, who agreed to split the campus with Phillips to seek recruiters for each of the major buildings. Initially the drive was held over two days in the main ballroom of the Carolina Inn, and also -- on one of those days -- out at the Physical Plant on Airport Drive.
In the early years, 1989 through 1993, the appointment cards and master schedule of appointments were kept manually by Debbie Anderson, Phillips' administrative assistant. Volunteers were coordinated by Tommy Brickhouse, manager of University Mail Services, and Linwood Futrelle, computer lab manager. Anderson, Brickhouse and Futrelle were crucial to the success of the drive in those days.
That first year the drive collected approximately 580 units over two days. The goal was raised to 890 the next year. The total came up shy by 35 units, but more than 1,000 individuals showed up ready to donate.
For the third year, the goal was raised to that elusive 1,000-pint mark. Productive units actually dropped that year by 16 -- to 839 -- but again, more than 1,000 donors showed up to give.
It was in year four that the drive hit that magic mark: 1,019 productive units from more than 1,150 donors. Year five was a repeat, with a total of 1,052 units.
In 1994, the drive moved to the Smith Center and the attempt was made to achieve in one day what had taken two days before. In its first year as a single day event, the drive produced just 719 units from 839 potential donors. It would take four more years, on its 10th anniversary, for the drive to reach that magic one-day number, and 1,031 units were collected.
Needless to say, the Carolina Blood Drive has become a tradition that will hopefully have multiple twenty year anniversaries. It has flourished over the years due to the giving spirit of the Carolina faculty, staff and students, and with your help it will continue to save lives and give hope to those who truly need it.
We invite you, your co-workers, family and friends to attend the 20th anniversary of the Carolina Blood Drive on Tuesday, June 3, 2008, from 7am - 6pm at the Dean E. Smith Center. Our goal once again is for the Heels to collect 1000 units of blood to help save lives and promote healing in hospitals across the Carolinas Region of the American Red Cross. With your help, we can be successful. For further details on how to sign up for an appointment, go to Register to Give or call 962-5663 for an appointment.
Thank you again for your help in making it happen. We hope to see you on June 3rd at the Smith Center.