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Northlake Hills
Elementary School has broken the
national record for a single-day elementary school blood drive by collecting
163 units of blood.
On October 2, 2008,
Northlake Hills
Elementary School set the national
record for the most units of blood collected at a single-day elementary school
blood drive. The blood drive, held on the school’s campus, 32535
Ridge Route Road, Castaic,
CA, 91384,
began at 7:00 am and finished around 7:00 pm.
A total of 163 units of blood were collected, beating the previous
record of 151 set by Fairbury Westview Elementary in Peoria,
Illinois.
“The purpose of our blood drive was to collect as much blood
as possible to help those in need,” explains Bob Brauneisen, principal of
Northlake Hills Elementary. "We are excited we can now brag that our blood
drive is the largest single-day elementary school blood drive in the country;
however, this is not just about Northlake Hills (Elementary School) being ranked
No. 1 in the nation, it's about saving lives."
Northlake Hills
Elementary School ran a blood drive
on April 23, 2008 and
collected 123 units of blood from staff and parents. The October 2 blood drive, promoted by the PTA
under the coordination efforts of Sheila Faggiano and Maggie Ingersoll, was
goaled to collect 134 units-it surpassed expectations and collected a total of
163 units.
“Although it is not uncommon for high school or college blood
drives to collect over a one hundred units of blood at a single blood drive, it
is a rare occurrence for an elementary school blood drive,” says Teresa
Solorio, public affairs manager for American Red Cross Blood Services, Southern
California Region. “Northlake Hills
Elementary has had some very successful blood drives in the past, but this one
will go down in the national history books.”
“I am so proud of our school,” exclaims Faggiano. “We encourage other elementary schools in our
district to sponsor blood drives and help save lives. After all, Castaic is a
great community, and elementary schools can put out big numbers, just like the
high schools.”
Any healthy person age 17 or older (age 16 if accompanied by
a parent) and weighing at least 110 pounds may be eligible to donate
blood. All eligible donors are asked to
schedule an appointment to donate blood by calling 1.800.GIVE.LIFE
(1.800.448.3543) or by visiting GiveLife.org. To organize a blood drive, call
1.800.491.2113. For Spanish, please call
1.866-POR.VIDA (1.866.767.8432).
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