Politics & Government

RI Blood Center Honors Salve Regina for 32 Years of Saving Lives

The Rhode Island Blood Center recently honored Salve Regina University for more than three decades of hosting blood drives, collecting more than 7,600 pints since its first blood drive in September 1979.

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was among a number of Rhode Island companies, schools and organizations that hosted blood drives in 1979, the year the Rhode Island Blood Center was founded by the hospitals in the state.

At the “Appreciations Celebration,” hosted by the Blood Center at Salve Regina’s Ochre Court, blood donors and individuals who have registered with the national bone marrow registry, Be The Match, were also honored.

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Salve Regina is among a network of colleges, universities, and high schools statewide that regularly host blood drives, and account for more than 13 percent of the Rhode Island Blood Center’s annual blood collections.

At its most recent drive, Salve Regina collected 100 pints. Since each blood donation potentially saves three lives, those 100 donations have given hope to 300 individuals and their families. Since its first drive in 1979, donors at the university have had an impact on the lives of nearly 23,000 individuals and their families.

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Lawrence Smith, the Rhode Island Blood Center’s Chief Executive Officer, praised the university and its students for their longstanding support of blood donation, commenting that the university’s Ochre Court, among Newport’s historic mansions is “among the most beautiful donor rooms we have in Rhode Island.”

Ochre Court was built in 1892 and is the second largest mansion in Newport.

University of Rhode Island student Andrew Mikkelsen reminded individuals of the importance of registering for the marrow program. Mikkelsen was a bone marrow donor.

“What is only five hours of my life if it can mean the chance to save someone else’s life? It’s an easy thing to do,” he said.

Daisy Mirzaei, mother of Izzy Mirzaei a three-year-old diagnosed with the genetic blood disorder, beta thalassemia, also reminded individuals of the importance of donating both blood and registering for the marrow program. “It’s a big deal to me and my family,” she said. Izzy receives blood transfusions regularly as she awaits a marrow match.

The next Salve Regina blood drive will be Wednesday, December 7 and Thursday, December 8. Visit www.ribc.org to make an appointment.



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