By: Dawn Anderson, Communications/Public Affairs Volunteer

I recently had the honor of joining a panel to spotlight the incredible impact of blood donors. Our audience? LifeBoard members—an inspiring group of major corporations that go above and beyond in their commitment to hosting regular American Red Cross blood drives. This moment was especially meaningful to me because I once sat on the other side of that table. During my time at Genuine Parts Company (GPC), I proudly served as their LifeBoard representative for several years. Coming full circle to now speak as a panelist was a powerful reminder of how every role, big or small, can help save lives.

In my LifeBoard role, I scheduled blood drives, rounded up treats and goodies, publicized the opportunity to give and combined the drives with fun activities and challenges for the GPC employees. And, of course, I rolled up my sleeve to donate each quarter as well. I was a Blood Donation Ambassador and never have I felt more involved in something bigger and more important. 

Fast forward 15 years, and I’m sitting on stage explaining to the LifeBoard designees how blood donations saved my mother’s life last fall. She was battling an infection after a fall and a broken femur. Her hemoglobin dropped dangerously low. To stabilize her for surgery and additional treatment, she received four units of blood. When I was asked to share her story, I welcomed the opportunity. It was such a meaningful opportunity to talk about how blood donations gave her more time—time to meet her great-grandson, and even go wedding dress shopping with her granddaughter. Moments like those wouldn’t have been possible without the generosity of donors. Today, she’s looking forward to celebrating her 87th birthday, and that’s something truly worth celebrating.

Every two seconds, someone in the United States needs blood. This translates to approximately 29,000 units used each day for lifesaving surgeries, medical treatments, and traumatic injuries. Through the generous donations of caring individuals, the American Red Cross provides about 40% of that need. Unfortunately, only about 3% of the eligible population donates, which can lead to shortages.

To address this critical need, several large corporations in Atlanta joined together to form LifeBoard in 1997, an initiative organized by Elizabeth Dole, then CEO of the American Red Cross. LifeBoard members commit to organizing and hosting at least four blood drives on their premises each year, making it easy and convenient for employees to donate. By bringing blood donation opportunities directly to workplaces, LifeBoard encourages more people to give.

Additionally, members help the American Red Cross educate employees about their Sickle Cell Initiative through events and internal communication channels. Sickle cell disease is a painful and debilitating disease that disproportionately affects Black or African Americans. The Sickle Cell Initiative focuses on increasing blood donations, particularly from African American individuals, as they are more likely to have blood types compatible with those of sickle cell patients, enhancing treatment effectiveness. During the donation process, the Red Cross also screens all blood donations from self-identified African American donors for the sickle cell trait, providing additional health insights and creating a win-win for both donors and recipients.

LifeBoard members establish a regular and consistent supply of donated blood, which is critical for the Red Cross. Since its inception, LifeBoard has been a vital component in the blood supply, with thousands of units donated each year as a direct result of those drives. For example, in 2024, Delta Air Lines held multiple blood drives in several locations and contributed over 4,000 units.

The pandemic of 2020 hampered blood donations as businesses temporarily closed or went remote. Before 2020, blood donations through LifeBoard exceeded 14,000 units annually. As more organizations return to in-office operations, LifeBoard members have risen to the challenge of rebuilding a strong blood donation supply stream. In the last fiscal year, 18 LifeBoard members collected 7,648 units by hosting 18 blood drives. Members range from law firms to major corporations, all sharing the mission to give back to their communities and a passion for volunteerism.

Current LifeBoard members include: Atlanta Gas Light, Alston & Bird, Bank of America, Coca-Cola Company, Cox, Delta Air Lines, Inc., Equifax, General Motors, Genuine Parts Company, Georgia-Pacific, Georgia Power, Kilpatrick Townsend & Stockton, LexisNexis, McGuire Woods, Truist, Tucker Power Sites (Family of Companies), UPS, and Voya.

Join us in making a lifesaving difference. To learn how your organization can become a LifeBoard member, visit redcross.org.

About the American Red Cross: 
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.