Stanford Blood Center partners with BayKids Studios to boost December blood supply

DATE: December 12, 2014
Attention News Desk: Press Release (for immediate release)
MEDIA CONTACT:
Loren Magaña 650-529-5828
lmagana@stanford.edu

Stanford Blood Center is partnering with BayKids Studios as part of the center’s second annual “Give Good” campaign during this holiday season. For each donor who rolls up their sleeve Dec.15-28, the center will make a donation toward the creative expression of children facing serious illness.

“BayKids Studios’ mission helps children heal through the art of filmmaking. Their mission inspired Stanford Blood Center to use our own storytelling to better connect donors and patients,” said Loren Magaña, center spokesperson. “Donors who come in during the run of this campaign will help make children’s stories come to life on screen.”

The campaign will take place at all centers and mobile blood drives. On Dec. 17, the blood center will hold a mobile blood drive with BayKids Studios from 10 a.m.-3 p.m. at the Thoreau Center for Sustainability, Presidio Building No. 1014, at the intersection of Lincoln Boulevard and Torney Avenue in San Francisco.

The winter holidays are an especially difficult time to maintain adequate supplies of blood because potential donors are often unavailable due to travel or illness.

Devora Kothari, executive director of BayKids Studios, noted that her organization has worked with over 6,000 children to produce about 500 films so far. “It’s wonderful for generous people who donate their blood to have an opportunity to experience this strong connection to those they may be helping,” Kothari said. “A kid in the hospital becomes a kid with a camera and a story to tell. Through the power of filmmaking, kids explore their creativity and discover their unique voice.”

“We’d love to see all regular and first-time donors come out and participate in the Give Good campaign,” said Magaña. “What a great way to give back during the holidays.”

Donors should be in good health with no cold or flu symptoms. They must eat well prior to donation, drink fluids and present photo identification at the time of donation. The process takes about an hour. For more information or to schedule an appointment online, please call (888) 723-7831 or visit stanfordbloodcenter.org.

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Stanford Blood Center was created at the Stanford University School of Medicine in 1978 to meet the complex transfusion needs of Stanford Hospital & Clinics and Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital, Stanford, as well as provide tailored blood products and clinical trial services for school researchers.  Today the center provides blood products to 4 local hospitals and is a recognized leader in the field of transfusion medicine. More information is available at stanfordbloodcenter.org.