Parent Teacher Magazine Union County Public Schools November 2013 | Page 12

UCPS blood drives can save thousands of lives
Union County Public Schools principals were recognized on Sept. 5, 2013 by the American Red
Cross for donating a total of 2,053 pints of blood, potentially saving 6,159 lives.
Sheila Crunkleton, Community Chapter Executive with the American Red Cross, congratulated
principals and the school system at large, stating that this is up from last year’s donation of 1,876
units.
Crunkleton and Jillian Smyth, Donor Recruitment Director from the American Red Cross, presented
23 principals with certificates in recognition of the school system’s ongoing efforts and support of the
Red Cross.
Crunkleton said that the donation of 2,053 units of life-saving blood collected in these school
blood drives accounted for half of all blood collected in Union County last year. Basically, this is the
case every year, she said.
Twelve elementary schools hosted blood drives: Benton Heights Elementary School of the Arts,
Porter Ridge Elementary, Unionville Elementary, Weddington Elementary School, Poplin Elementary,
Western Union Elementary, Rocky River Elementary, Stallings Elementary, Waxhaw Elementary, New
Salem Elementary, Wesley Chapel Elementary and Prospect Elementary. Prospect Elementary led all
elementary schools with 70 units of life-saving blood collected.
Three middle schools: Cuthbertson Middle, Parkwood Middle and Piedmont Middle also held blood
drives. Cuthbertson Middle collected the most among the middle schools with 30 units collected.
Eight of the county’s high schools held blood drives, with four collecting well over 200 units each.
Participating from the high school level was: Cuthbertson High, Forest Hills High, Parkwood High,
Piedmont High, Porter Ridge High, Marvin Ridge High, Sun Valley High and Weddington High. Porter
Ridge High School took top honors for collecting 279 units of life-saving blood.
“Our Interact Club leads this initiative,” said Porter Ridge High School Principal Sam Basden. “We
do it twice a year. We probably have 50 student volunteers work when we do the blood drive. I’m
very proud that the students and staff at Porter Ridge are so eager to give back to the community.”
According to the American Red Cross, someone in the U.S. needs blood every two seconds,
with more than 44,000 blood donations needed every day. A single car accident victim can require
as many as 100 pints of blood. The American Red Cross supplies approximately 40 percent of the
nation’s blood supply, providing blood for patients in nearly 3,000 hospitals across the U.S.
-- This article was written by Deb Coates Bledsoe, Union County Public Schools
Communications Coordinator and provided courtesy of the UCPS Communications Office.

10 • November/December 2013 • Parent Teacher Magazine?

Porter Ridge High School Principal Sam
Basden, at right, accepts the Red Cross
Community Partner Award on behalf of
his school, as presented by Jillian Smyth,
Donor Recruitment Director from the
American Red