Red Cross Praises Blood Drive Efforts

02/05/2013 

Representatives from the American Red Cross visited SUNY Cortland Monday to deliver “a long overdue thank-you” for two decades of successful blood drives resulting in enough donations to affect more than 15,000 lives.

“Our records only go back 20 years to 1993,” said Gary Colvin, the regional life share manager for the New York-Penn Blood Services Region. “But in that time, we can say that SUNY Cortland has donated more than 5,000 units, which is just an outstanding number.

“Needless to say, we owe (SUNY Cortland) a long overdue thank-you.”

From left: College President Erik Bitterbaum; sophomore Cristina Braun; Kay Schwartz, from the American Red Cross; Mavis Lafever, from campus activities and Corey Union; and Vice President for Student Affairs C. Gregory Sharer

One unit of blood can save up to three lives, based on Red Cross estimates. That led Colvin to suggest that more than 15,000 lives could have been positively impacted because of SUNY Cortland’s efforts.

The organization also honored Mavis Lefever, a secretary I in campus activities and Corey Union, with a certificate of appreciation for many years of blood drive contributions.

College President Erik J. Bitterbaum and sophomore Cristina Braun, a community health major from Floral Park, N.Y., who is active in campus blood drives, accepted the recognition plaque on behalf of SUNY Cortland.

They also joined a small group conversation on how to build on campus blood drive success, especially through the annual Cortaca Blood Drive Challenge.

In 2012, SUNY Cortland amassed 65 units of blood through the early November event, collecting enough donations to save nearly 200 lives.