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Red Cross and Red Sox Honor New England Blood Donors
Written by
Lesly C. Simmons
, Staff Writer, RedCross.org
Tuesday, June 07, 2005 — Blood donors in the New England have a chance to get on the field with the Boston Red Sox every time they donate. For the past two baseball seasons the “Blood Donor of the Game” has gone on field before Red Sox games as a special thank you for giving the gift of life.
The relationship with the Red Sox began in April 2003, when the Save a Life Tour visited the Red Sox at Fenway Park to educate the public about the importance of regular blood donations.
Blood donor Cindy Corkins of Bristol, VT is honored before a Red Sox game in May. |
Michael Freedman, Chief of Business Management with the New England Region, developed the program after having such a great experience with the Sox during the tour.
“We set up a meeting in April 2003 with the Senior Vice President of Public Affairs. He talked to us about what happened on September 11 and what that meant to baseball, and he suggested we do a blood drive on 9/11—we said sure,” said Freedman.
At that drive, several thousand people showed up, and more than 400 units of blood were collected.
“It was an amazing day,” said Freedman. “We didn’t realize that the demand would be so great.”
After the drive, Freedman worked with Beth-Israel Deaconess Hospital, a Red Cross customer and the official Red Sox hospital, to come up with a way to honor blood donors throughout the season. Once Beth-Israel was on board as a partner, the idea was presented to the Red Sox in December of 2003, and they readily agreed.
So starting last year, a blood donor is recognized at every regular season game.
With the exception of opening day, the blood donor of the game is recognized on field. About 15 minutes before the game they get called out to home plate with Wally, the Red Sox mascot, and their name and photo appear on the scoreboard, while the announcer welcomes them and the crowd cheers.
“After the ceremony they are escorted to their nice loge box seats, which is even better since of the games are sold out,” Freedman said. “We also have their name announced after the game on the radio.”
The winner also gets an official Red Sox souvenir baseball as a keepsake of the day and a copy of their picture taken on field.
Season two of the program holds an even bigger prize for four lucky donors—two in New England and two in the Greater Chesapeake and Potomac Region, which served the Mid-Atlantic area. Two winners from the Baltimore area will get to visit Boston when the Orioles play the Red Sox at Fenway Park, and two from the Boston area will travel to Baltimore to see the Red Sox play at Camden Yards.
Freedman said that the Red Cross has been able to secure free airfare, hotels and meals from generous sponsors.
In all there are 81 home games, leaving plenty of chances for donors to have their names drawn for the contest. To win, donors must complete a card after they finish donating, and the names are randomly drawn.
“People say it’s wonderful, and it’s a great way to be thanked for being a volunteer blood donor,” said Freedman. “We’ve had everyone from first-time donors to people who have given hundreds of times win the drawing, so it’s a big deal.”
For more information, visit NewEnglandBlood.org
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