The Northeast Chapter of the American Red Cross Indiana Region has received a $500,000 donation from the William J. and Bonnie L. Hefner Foundation. This financial gift will help support the ongoing expansion of the Red Cross Immunohematology Reference Laboratory (IRL) in Fort Wayne.

“We are grateful to the William J. and Bonnie L. Hefner Foundation for its generous support of our lifesaving mission,” said Carol Tupy, Vice President of Laboratory Services. “This gift will have a profound and lasting impact in the community and beyond, helping to ensure lifesaving blood products are available for patients when every second counts.”

In Fort Wayne, the Northeast Chapter Office houses Humanitarian Services, Training Services, a Blood Center and one of only 45 Red Cross IRL locations nationwide. These specialized labs test blood to identify rare blood needs for people with sickle cell disease and others facing a medical emergency.

Last year, the center collected more than 16,000 blood products from nearly 3,000 donors. We distributed these to 82 local hospitals and cancer treatment centers in Indiana. To meet the significant increase in demand for blood products, we have begun expanding our lab to efficiently and effectively test, manufacture and store these lifesaving donations.

The renovation and expansion will allow us to meet yearly demand increases for our lab’s services. When a hospital needs to match a patient’s rare blood type, the IRL tests the blood to identify a precise match.

The IRL provides patient care services to 43 hospitals across Indiana, Ohio and Kentucky. It also supports Indiana University Health’s sickle cell exchange program, which requires a unique blood supply to treat children and adults affected by the disease.

As our population ages, advanced treatments require more blood products. In fact, cancer care alone utilizes 25% of the U.S. blood supply. Additionally, a diversifying population requires an equally diverse donor base to ensure every patient receives the most compatible blood match.

The ongoing project and contribution from the William J. and Bonnie L. Hefner Foundation will ensure that compatible blood is available to patients across the region. Renovations will provide additional workspace for incoming staff, improve workflow efficiency across the lab and blood center, and feature safety upgrades.

The project is under construction and is expected to be completed in 2027.

About the American Red Cross Indiana Region: 
The American Red Cross of Indiana Region serves 6.9 million people in 104 counties in Indiana, Illinois, Kentucky and Ohio through its five chapters: Northeast, Northwest, Southeast, Southwest, and Greater Indianapolis (Regional Headquarters). 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 us at Redcross.org/Indiana or follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram @indianaredcross.

# # #