Receiving a national award from the American Association of Blood Banks in Miami Beach, Fla., is Bobbie Dore Foster, executive editor, The Skanner News Group, shown with Eric Brown, chief executive officer, American Red Cross Pacific Northwest Regional Blood Services, Portland.
The Skanner newspaper was recognized for increasing awareness and encouraging blood and bone marrow donations among African Americans by the American Association of Blood Banks, in a collaborative effort with American Red Cross Pacific Northwest Regional Blood Services. The award was presented at AABB's annual meeting gala at the Loews hotel, Miami Beach, Fla., Oct. 24. The ARC stated that "The Skanner newspaper has lead the way working with the Pacific Northwest Regional Blood Drive. The paper has participated in several blood and bone marrow events by running public service announcement ads and feature stories. At the 2005 Martin Luther King Jr. breakfast, hosted by The Skanner, ARC highlighted the need for a high school freshman, Jarraye Hicks, with leukemia, who needed a bone marrow donor. Unfortunately, Hicks did not receive the transplant and died a few weeks later.
The 1,100 plus breakfast participants were encouraged to donate blood after the event. Young people in college or high school have been urged to become regular donors, as well.
Among other awards of outstanding achievement included individual: Lauren Ward Larsen, Boulder, CO. A pregnancy-related disorder required hospitalization and 200 pints of blood, platelets and plasma, without which she would have internally bled to death. She is now travels nationally as an advocate for blood donations. And winning the organization category was Rotary International, Evanston, IL., for supporting blood donations in all of its 32,000 clubs in 200 nations; 60 percent of its membership participated in blood drives sponsored by Rotary.
