Dawaun Lucas, a first-time Power Red blood donor, exemplified the spirit of giving, highlighting how donating blood can help save lives with just a simple act and a powerful reminder that everyone can play a role in disaster preparedness and supporting those in need. Photos by Mimi Teller/American Red Cross.
By Mimi Teller/American Red Cross
While disasters don’t adhere to timetables, the American Red Cross prepares for heightened risks like hurricanes, wildfires and extreme winter weather. In anticipation, we take every measure to ensure we have a steady supply of blood products for emergencies and medical treatments. To kick off our preparations this past summer, we partnered with Universal Pictures for a day of community impact, complete with blood donations, disaster preparedness training and emergency kit assembly.
The event, inspired by the release of the movie “Twisters,” saw the Universal Pictures team step up as a true force for change. Among the dedicated blood donors was Sr. Digital Marketing Manager Dawaun Lucas, who chose to donate Power Red for the first time—a critical type of blood donation. Power Red donations collect twice the amount of red blood cells compared to regular donations, offering a unique opportunity to help those in critical need, especially trauma or surgery patients, using less of the blood supply while providing the same impact.
Lucas’ choice to give Power Red underscores his commitment to giving back. “I’m a giving person and I like to give back,” he shared. “Donating blood is a lot easier than going out to disaster sites around the U.S.!”
Blood donors from the Black Community play a vital role in providing life-saving transfusions for those with sickle cell disease. Their donations are highly compatible, offering hope and essential support for individuals battling this condition, which disproportionately affects African American communities.
His humor highlighted an important point—while he may not be on the front lines of a disaster, his contribution still has a lasting impact. Power Red donations are especially valuable to those battling sickle cell disease, which predominantly affects Black communities, as these donations provide highly compatible blood matches crucial for life-saving transfusions.
The day’s efforts resulted in 41 blood donations, including four Power Red donations, disaster preparedness training for 48 employees and the assembly of 300 emergency kits distributed to vulnerable communities. Lucas’ commitment and the contributions of fellow Universal peers helped ensure that the Red Cross is well-prepared for whatever emergencies lie ahead.
Schedule your lifesaving blood donation today at redcross.org/blood.
About the American Red Cross:
The American Red Cross shelters, feeds and provides comfort to victims of disasters; supplies about 40% of the nation’s blood; teaches skills that save lives; distributes international humanitarian aid; and supports veterans, military members and their families. The Red Cross is a nonprofit organization that depends on volunteers and the generosity of the American public to deliver its mission. For more information, please visit redcross.org or CruzRojaAmericana.org, or follow us on social media.
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