Lifelines (Summer 2002)

Quick Bits

500 and Counting!
Like many blood donors, the illness of a loved one was the first motivation for David Stainbrook to donate blood. In 1957, his father was hospitalized in Southern California, and because he had used several units of blood, David decided he should stop in at the then Irwin Memorial Blood Bank to donate a pint, as a replacement. That was 45 years ago, and he hasn’t stopped giving ever since.

David also began giving platelets when the blood center first started the apheresis program and now has a combination of more than 500 apheresis and whole blood donations! Every year, David faithfully donates 24 apheresis donations and two to three pints of whole blood at the Marin Blood Center. When asked what his motivation is, he told us, “It is a way to pay back all of the good things people do for me.”

David’s continuing support of the community blood program has saved countless lives. Thank you David!

Fan Mail
Students, Vincent Fung and Jeffrey Liang, sent this thank-you note to Deborah Verkouw of the PR Department, after she led them on a tour of the BCP Irwin Center.

A Multi-Media Educational Program Hits the Bay Area!
“My Blood, Your Blood” (MBYB) is a new and exciting multi-media, educational project designed to teach kids of various ages about blood biology, blood circulation and the importance of becoming a blood donor!

The program was created by a group of physicians and educators in conjunction with America’s Blood Centers and Puget Sound Blood Center in Seattle. The MBYB package was developed as a turnkey educational program that can be easily adapted to a variety of learning levels. The program seeks to foster altruism and community spirit and will also provide the most up-to-date information and creative strategies for teaching blood science! The program contains a video, featuring storytelling and animation, a 24 page learning-guide and a poster highlighting features from the video.

BCP is pleased to announce that it has distributed the MBYB package to more than 43 schools in the greater Bay Area. The feedback we have received has been terrific! Teachers not only like the science, but also enjoy the convenience of the pre-planned materials. The kids seem to enjoy the blood science animation and come away from the experience knowing the importance of becoming blood donors.

If you are interested in learning more about the MBYB program, please visit their website at www.mybloodyourblood.org, or call Deborah Verkouw at the Irwin Center at 415-749-6632.h