From left, Leonard Rezmierski, board member of the Red Cross Southeast Michigan Chapter Board of Directors; Shannon Walters, Red Cross account manager for donor recruitment; Kelley DeLong, Red Cross strategic booking planning manager; Fr. Scott Thibodeau, Our Lady of the Lakes lead pastor; and Robert Jansen, Our Lady of the Lakes principal.
DETROIT (March 5, 2026) – The American Red Cross today recognized Our Lady of the Lakes Catholic Church and School as a top performing blood drive partner in metro Detroit. The parochial school hosted at least 20 blood drives from 2020-2025 that led to the collection of 2,635 units of lifesaving blood for the Red Cross blood supply, the most of any Red Cross blood drive partner in metro Detroit in the same time period.
Our Lady of the Lakes, located on Dixie Highway in Waterford, is a longtime Red Cross blood drive partner and hosts five blood drives throughout the year. Our Lady of the Lakes will hold its next blood drive on Thursday, March 26.
At a presentation Thursday, the Red Cross awarded Our Lady of the Lakes a plaque commemorating the 2,635 units of blood collected from its blood drives. The award is part of a new program created by the biomedical committee of the Red Cross Southeast Michigan Chapter board of directors to recognize top performing blood drive partners.
“We are grateful to Our Lady of Lakes for their longtime partnership and incredible success hosting Red Cross blood drives,” said Shannon Walters, a Red Cross account manager for donor recruitment, adding that the 2,635 units of blood collected helped saved hundreds of lives. “They consistently excel at coordinating their blood drives and meeting and exceeding their collection goals with a steady turnout of generous blood donors.”
“One of the most beautiful aspects of this recognition is that our blood drives have truly been a student-driven endeavor,” said Robert Jansen, principal of Our Lady of the Lakes Catholic School. Added Fr. Scott Thibodeau, lead pastor of Our Lady of the Lakes: “This achievement is a testament to the ‘Laker” spirit of service that defines our parish and school.”
According to the Red Cross, which provides about 40% of the nation’s blood supply, a single blood donation can help save more than one life. Each day, the Red Cross hosts about 500 blood drives nationwide to help ensure blood products are available whenever and
wherever they are needed.
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MEDIA CONTACTS: David Olejarz / david.olejarz@redcross.org / 313-303-0606
Erika McDonald / erika.mcdonald@ollonline.org / 248-805-1895
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.
About Our Lady of the Lakes Catholic Church and School
Located in Waterford, Michigan, Our Lady of the Lakes Catholic Church and School is a Christ-centered community where faith, learning, service and love come together each day. Serving from the heart of Oakland County since 1948, our community has stayed rooted in Catholic Tradition- guided by the Holy Spirit under the Mantle of Mary. Through this we are dedicated to forming disciples through personal discipline and academic excellence.
