Every two seconds someone in the United States needs blood and/or platelets. Each day there is a demand for approximately 29,000 units of red blood cells. A single car accident victim alone could require as many as 100 units. The one way to address this ongoing national need is for people to donate blood. The American Red Cross notes that only about 3% of age-eligible people donate yearly, so each new donor is a gift that helps meet patients’ needs.
No two people know this better than Information Technology’s Cheri Ross, manager of finance and business operations, and Debbie Michelson, senior executive assistant to the CIO, who have put their hearts into hosting Red Cross blood drives at 25 Science Park four times a year. The drive on January 28 and the second on April 22 exceeded their combined 82-unit goal by collecting 84 units of blood and welcomed 15 new donors.
Carrying on the cause
Ross and Michelson continue an annual tradition begun by their retired colleague Tim Bertaccini for whom the blood drive is now named. “Leading the drive,” said Ross, “was a retirement gift to Tim, who was my mentor for many years. He has the dedication and the passion that fuels our commitment to saving lives in our community.”
Bertaccini still attends every drive, sometimes showing up in a panda costume as entertainment, but always greeting donors at the door and then writing a personalized thank-you note to them. “Tim continues to inspire us,” added Michelson, “Lately we’ve been elated to see that we are attracting more and more first-time donors.”
Boosting the blessing
Expanding the drive from once a year to quarterly is a point of pride for Ross and Michelson. They credit this with establishing strong connections with the Red Cross and Internal Communications. Michelson recalled that when they first took over the drive, there were a good number of spots taken, but then people did not show up. “It was not a good look,” she said. “And we kind of made that known.”
“That’s when we worked hard to figure out who to talk to at The Red Cross, strengthen prior relationships, and build our own.” added Ross. “It really was a game changer.”
Michelson and Ross engaged with Internal Communications to promote events through emails, newsletters, and flyers. They both noted that it is all well and good to have a passion, but if you cannot get people to pay attention to what you are passionate about, what benefit is that?
“To see how much it has grown is just amazing,” said Michelson. At the first few drives, the Red Cross only delivered three or four beds, but now it brings in six or eight.
The blood drives take place in Conference Room 125 at 25 Science Park from 10:00 a.m. through 4:00 p.m. The next drives are scheduled for July 22, October 25, and January 27 (this will be the fourth annual Tim Bertaccini Blood Drive).
Ross believes she and Michelson have made a difference “with the very small, simple act of hosting a blood drive,” a little endeavor that makes a big impression when people support it. “We have a successful game plan for our quarterly blood drives,” said Ross, summarizing the initiative. “Between Deb, me, and the legacy that Tim Bertaccini has within Yale, you have the passion, dedication and even entertainment, that supports the Red Cross and our university community.”
