Blood drive: 270 donors, $22,500 for Island charities
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| Billy Malfese, student reporter for The Islander, makes his first-ever blood contribution at the Islandwide Blood Drive. Islander Photo: Bonner Joy |
A total of 270 donors volunteered their blood at three locations in
the Islandwide blood drive over the weekend, bringing
$22,500 to four Island organizations from an anonymous benefactor.
The
net result was 225 units of blood for the Florida Blood
Services, more than the 200 units it had anticipated.
The anonymous
benefactor had offered to give $100 for every unit
of blood donated to the donor’s
favorite charity (or combination) from four selections:
Wildlife Education and Rehabilitation
Center $10,050, Anna Maria Island Community Center
$4,900, Anna Maria Island Privateers $4,500, and West Manatee Fire & Rescue Volunteers $3,050.
Blood was taken
at blood mobiles at the The
Islander in Holmes Beach, where 104 donors gave; BeachHouse Restaurant
in Bradenton Beach, 94; and Publix Super Market, 72 donors.
All donors got free
donor-recognition T-shirts and some gifts from the
Florida Blood Service, such as water-bottle “coolies.”
The
organizations benefiting in cash will put the money
to good use, they said.
Wildlife Rehab provides treatment and care
for injured and orphaned wildlife to return native
species back to the environment, and provides classes for schools and
civic groups to heighten environmental awareness. It can be reached at
778-6324.
The Privateers annually puts the money to
use for scholarships to high school graduates and past
award-winners receive continuing aid. The organization supports youth
activities on the Island and sponsors the Fourth of July parade and celebration,
when the scholarship recipients are recognized. Privateer Liz Cline can
be contacted at 778-8519.
The Center
for 45 years has served Island children, families and
seniors with cultural, educational, fitness, family support, recreational
and sports programs. It is currently raising funds for a new facility.
Phone 778-1908.
Fire district volunteers vitalize the history
of the district, maintaining the Bradenton Beach Historic
Volunteer Station and an antique fire truck for children to visit, as
well as for parades. Phone 737-9025.
The blood drive is sponsored for Florida Blood Services this year by
A Pine Avenue Salon, the BeachHouse Restaurant, Publix, SunCoast Real
Estate, Sun & Surf
Resortwear, Spinnakers Vacation Cottages and The Islander.
Prizes for blood drive participants
New this year, blood drive participants
had an opportunity to sign up for prizes at each of
the blood donation sites, including dinner for two persons at Ooh La
La! Bistro in Holmes Beach, a ride on either the Privateer ship or the
fire district antique fire truck in the July 4 parade, dining certificates
from the Chiles Group Restaurants, and other certificates, including
movie theater tickets and FBS gift items. Some prize winners were notified
by phone or e-mail, and some winners are listed here:
Ooh La La! Bistro certificate:
Herta Bowes.
Privateer July 4 ride: Linda Skelton.
Fire truck July 4 ride: Frances Derr.
Chiles Group certificates:
Bob Connors, John Rudacille and Jessica Hoffmann.
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