LOS ANGELES, Jan. 13, 2020 — The American Red Cross Los Angeles Region and FOX 11 LA are teaming up for a blood appointment telethon on Wednesday, Jan. 15 from 6 a.m. - 6 p.m. The Red Cross and FOX 11 are urging individuals to make an appointment to give blood now to help ensure blood products are available for patients during National Blood Donor Month, a time to celebrate the lifesaving impact of blood and platelet donors.
The first-of-its-kind blood appointment telethon will feature stories and interviews with blood recipients, donors and community leaders and a behind-the-scenes look at how blood donations are processed and shipped to hospital patients from the local manufacturing facility. View the story of Mario Moralez on Fox11 LA; it is the story of a boy who had cancer and continues to donate blood, crediting those donations for helping save his life.
Be sure to call in at 310-584-CALL to make an appointment to donate and help save lives. The first 500 callers to make an appointment on Wednesday will get a special gift from FOX 11 and the Red Cross.
HOW YOU CAN HELP The Red Cross is urging people to pick up the phone and make an appointment to donate blood and save a life.
National Blood Donor Month has been celebrated each January for 50 years and coincides with one of the most difficult times to maintain a sufficient blood supply for patients.
“In Southern California, hundreds of donations were not collected during this timeframe, contributing to the overall shortfall,” said Jarrett Barrios, CEO of the American Red Cross Los Angeles Region. “During these winter months, the national blood supply tends to drop because less people are going out to give blood. Blood products are perishable, and the only source of lifesaving blood for patients is volunteer blood donors, making it essential for our Region to help bolster the nation’s supply. We need your help today to ensure we have enough blood to meet these critical needs.”
As a special thank-you, those who donate blood Jan. 1-19, 2020, will automatically be entered for a chance to experience the Super Bowl LIV live. The Red Cross and NFL have teamed up to offer one winner two tickets to Super Bowl, entry to the official NFL Tailgate, tickets to Super Bowl Experience at the Miami Beach Convention Center, round-trip airfare to Miami, three-night hotel accommodations at The Alexander - All Suite Oceanfront Resort, and a $500 gift card for expenses.* Additional details are available at RedCrossBlood.org/SuperBowl.
About the American Red Cross:
The American Red Cross shelters, feeds and provides emotional support to victims of disasters; supplies about 40 percent of the nation's blood; teaches skills that save lives; provides international humanitarian aid; and supports military members and their families. The Red Cross is a not-for-profit organization that depends on volunteers and the generosity of the American public to perform its mission. For more information, please visit redcross.org/la or cruzrojaamericana.org, or visit us on Twitter at @RedCrossLA or @CruzRojaLA.