Lifelines (Fall 2002)

Quick Bits

BCP on the Airwaves!
The popular Alice Morning Radio Show @ 97.3 made blood donation a hot topic during the July 4th week. Radio co-host, Hooman and producer, Matty, donated blood live on the air from the radio station’s studios in downtown San Francisco to demonstrate just how easy it is to save lives through blood donation. The hosts, Sarah and No Name, also interviewed BCP’s Director of Communications, Lisa Bloch, spotlighting the urgent need for blood donations.

The morning show attracts a huge listening audience and BCP received a ton of calls after the show from people wanting to donate blood! The Alice Morning Show team are true community heroes. Thank you Alice!

And, the Bay Area's oldies station, KFRC, also deserves a big round of applause for helping to get the word out about the need for blood in the wake of BCP's bloodmobile being burned (see related story on page 3). KFRC’s morning show gave away Oakland A’s tickets to BCP blood donors and highlighted the urgent need for blood donation. Thanks KFRC!

Getting to Know Our Neighbors
When the young women of Mount St. Joseph – St. Elizabeth stroll past the Irwin Center in San Francisco, they often ask, “What is the blood center and what do they do in there?” Because the girls were curious, Jan Gibbs, R.N., N.P. of the nursing department at Mount St. Joseph – St. Elizabeth called BCP to ask us to be a part of their summer educational program. Mount St. Joseph – St. Elizabeth offers programs to provide support, education and assistance for at-risk women, many of whom are young mothers.

BCP was delighted to participate in the four-week long summer program, providing educational information and tours of BCP’s facility to the young women. Each week a new group rotated through the program, viewing videos, learning about blood science and taking a tour through the blood center.

We hope the program helped these young women understand the importance of blood donations and promoted a feeling of community. The facilities are within walking distance of each other and it is always good to know your neighbor!

Charles Jezycki – Recruitment Director Bids BCP a Fond Farewell
After nine years of dedicated service, BCP Donor Recruitment Director Charles Jezycki entered the wonderful world of retirement. Charles told us, “the time has come to move into the next phase of my life – retirement!” Formal retirement began for Charles in July 2002.

Charles was Administrative Director of the Peninsula Blood Bank prior to the merger with Irwin Memorial and then moved on to become Recruitment Director for BCP. Charles said, “It’s been an exciting and rewarding experience to have worked with the blood center, but it is now time for my wife and I to enjoy the fruits of our labor.”

A 10-gallon blood donor, Charles continues to give blood at the Peninsula South Bay Center. He knows the valuable service blood donors perform and will continue to give as long as he can. Recently, he was spotted looking tanned, relaxed and sporting a goatee! BCP Awishes Charles well in his retirement.