Ford Engineers Help Rebuild Blood Bank
12 January 2001
Ford Engineers Help Rebuild Blood Bank
DEARBORN, Mich., Jan. 12 Automotive safety isn't the only
public health concern of Ford Motor Company engineers who are lining
up by the hundreds this week to help re-stock the storm-battered southeastern
Michigan blood supplies.
Large corporate donors like Ford are a lifeline to hundreds of area
patients whose needs must be met by the American Red Cross Southeastern
Michigan Blood Services Region, where supplies dipped critically low in recent
weeks.
"We're now at a critical level, with less than a day's supplies of most
blood types," says Mary Anne Stella, chief operating officer for the regional
Red Cross, which recently declared an emergency as snow and cold weather
severely curtailed the usual blood drives at local schools, churches and
community centers.
December and January -- with the holidays, bad weather and illness -- are
typically the worst time for donations, which must tally 700 to 1,000 pints
every day to adequately supply medical facilities in southeastern Michigan.
Blood drives are increasingly productive at Ford, which prides itself on
its corporate citizenship. Total donations by local hourly and salaried Ford
employees grew from 7,400 units in 1998 to more than 13,000 in 1999 and Stella
says the Dearborn-based automaker remains the top corporate donor in
southeastern Michigan.
Ford President and CEO Jac Nasser says donating blood "is safe, fast, and
easy, and it saves lives. Each donation can save the lives of as many as four
people -- people with leukemia, cancer, anemia, severe burns or those
undergoing surgery for illness or injury.
"Giving blood is a gift of life and it meets one of our community's most
basic needs, both to deal with medial emergencies and to support ongoing
medical treatment. And it's one of the easiest ways for any of us to give
just a little, and make a big difference."
Stella says Ford employees are "loyal and responsive donors. When they
know there's a need, they are right there volunteering to give blood, recruit
donors and work on the blood drive."
Like donors everywhere, Ford employees give blood for a variety of
reasons. "Some are inspired by a loved one's need for blood, while others
have been donating for years," says volunteer coordinator Willy Biberstein at
the Product Development Center.
"I began donating blood in college and it makes me feel good knowing I may
be able to help someone else in critical need," says Ray Larabell, a finance
supervisor in Research and Vehicle Technology.
"There may come a time when I, or someone in my family, need blood and I
know other donors would step up to help. So I feel I'm returning the favor in
advance."
Dozens of local Ford donors have passed personal gallon (8-pint)
milestones, but one of the most unlikely is Lynn Campo, who works in drafting
in the Product Development Center.
She hates needles and admits she gets nervous before every donation, but
Campo last June passed the 13-gallon (104 pints) marker. When asked why, she
explains:
"It's important and people's lives depend on it. I would hate to be in
the hospital and not have blood there if I needed it. People have to help
people."
Larabell and Campo are among some 300 employees donating blood this week
at the Product Development Center. Employees there donated 1,441 pints last
year in a series of blood drives, but this year's target is 2,500 pints.
The PDC is one of 51 Ford buildings in southeast Michigan hosting blood
drives throughout the year. Employees can schedule appointments via the
internal Ford intranet at http://www.programs.ford.com/givelife . Others can
make arrangements by calling the Red Cross at 1-800-GIVE-LIFE.