Canadian High School Students Rally to Deliver Gifts to Hospital Patients
FedEx Express Canada Announces Winners of National Blood Recruitment Challenge
June 20, 2012 (MISSISSAUGA, ONTARIO) - FedEx Express Canada today announced the winners of Young Blood for Life, a national high school recruitment program focused on encouraging blood donation among young people. The program was developed by Canadian Blood Services with prizes made possible through a $180,000 donation by FedEx Express Canada.
Canadian high school students aged 17 and over donated 18,339 units of blood during the program - an increase of 34 percent in collections compared to 2010 – 2011. The program also saw 6,873 new blood donors – an increase of 16 percent. Donors in this age group represent nine percent of Canada’s current blood donor population.
The results are promising because Canadian Blood Services needs to recruit over 89,000 new donors this year alone to keep pace with the growing demand for blood and blood products. Young Blood for Life took place between September 15, 2011 and May 31, 2012.
“FedEx is extremely proud to support Canadian Blood Services and play a role in saving and improving the lives of Canadians,” said Lisa Lisson, president of FedEx Express Canada. “We are excited to see this program grow and are thrilled to be a part of such an important movement among young people.”
Young Blood for Life is a national high school recruitment program focused on encouraging blood donation among young people. It relies on student leaders in high schools across Canada to advocate for blood donation with their peers. The program, now in its third year, challenges students to recruit teachers, their families and friends to donate at Canadian Blood Services’ clinics.
The winning school is St. Joseph's High School in Windsor, Ontario. They had the highest number of donors (317) of the 355 participating schools. They also had the highest number of new donors, at 127, of all the participating schools. St. Joseph’s will receive two $500 cash prizes courtesy of FedEx Express Canada in both the top new donors and top blood collections categories of the challenge. This is the second year in a row that St. Joseph’s has captured these two prizes. For a list of all the 2011 – 2012 winners please visit www.blood.ca.
The participation from Canadian students went even further than expected. This year, OneMatch Stem Cell and Marrow Network joined the Young Blood for Life program to raise awareness of the need for younger stem cell donors, and to register new potential donors to help patients. The partnership was a natural fit as an ‘optimal stem cell donor’ is someone who is young—between the ages of 17 and 35—male, and ethnically diverse. During the period of April to June 2012, 37 high schools participated in OneMatch information and swab events (DNA sampling), adding new optimal donors to the Network.
With a target of adding 1,300 new stem cell donors to the OneMatch Network, high school swab events registered 2,261 new donors this spring.
“It’s exciting to see youth across the country making such a significant contribution to Canada’s blood system,” said Sue Blasutti, Executive Director of Donor and Clinic Services. “Especially knowing that this year, Canadian Blood Services needs to recruit over 89,000 new donors to keep pace with the growing demand for blood and blood products across Canada. Young Blood for Life contributes greatly towards meeting that goal.”
Over the next two years of the program, the FedEx contribution will continue to help Canadian Blood Services provide promotional materials and award cash prizes to participating high schools.
Students across the country can continue to Rally Together to Help Save Lives during summer vacation. You can give blood every 56 days, so chances are you can include one or two donations in your summer plans. Call 1 888 2 DONATE (1 888 236 6283) for clinic locations or to book an appointment.
About FedEx Express
FedEx Express is the world’s largest express transportation company, providing fast and reliable delivery to every U.S. address and to more than 220 countries and territories. FedEx Express uses a global air-and-ground network to speed delivery of time-sensitive shipments, by a definite time and date with a money-back guarantee.
About FedEx Corp.
FedEx Corp. (NYSE: FDX) provides customers and businesses worldwide with a broad portfolio of transportation, e-commerce and business services. With annual revenues of $43 billion, the company offers integrated business applications through operating companies competing collectively and managed collaboratively, under the respected FedEx brand. Consistently ranked among the world's most admired and trusted employers, FedEx inspires its more than 300,000 team members to remain "absolutely, positively" focused on safety, the highest ethical and professional standards and the needs of their customers and communities.
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