By Stephanie Kriner, Red Cross Volunteer

At just 15 years old, Reid Frazier already understood the lifesaving power of blood donations. When he learned about the American Red Cross Leaders Save Lives Scholarship Program, empowers high school and college students to organize and host blood drives, Reid saw an opportunity to make a difference.

“People I know and love were in need of blood,” said Reid, a junior at Starmount High School in Boonville, North Carolina. “At 15, most organizations say you are too young to contribute to a cause. The American Red Cross gave me a way to help save lives by letting me lead a blood drive since I was too young to donate blood.”

Reid’s motivation came from personal experiences.

“One of my favorite teachers had to receive multiple transfusions over the course of her cancer treatment; a family friend's infant son was born missing part of his heart and received transfusions as part of his partial heart transplant; and a HOSA (Health Occupations Students of America) friend who helped mentor me receives blood periodically to help his ulcerative colitis,” Reid explained.

Once Reid committed to hosting the blood drive, he was delighted to find a lot of people who were willing to support him and pitch in to make his efforts a success.

“My (Red Cross) account manager, Tif McLaughlin, was with me every step of the way, checking in, encouraging me and making sure I stayed on target for the drive,” said Reid.

He also has some advice for others who may be interested in the Leaders Saves Lives Program.

“Your friends, family, and community want to be a part of something good, so don't be scared to give them an opportunity to volunteer to help or donate.”

Reid found great support from the members of his congregation at Boonville Baptist Church. “My church family's support is one of the reasons the drive was a success.”

Through the experience, Reid gained more than he expected.

“I felt great satisfaction in helping my community help save lives, and I learned a lot about promoting community events, organizing a group of my peers, and communicating through several channels to get donors,” he said.

His efforts also earned him a $1,000 scholarship through the Leaders Save Lives program—a surprise that will help him pursue his dream of becoming an occupational therapist.

“I knew there was a chance when I agreed to host a drive, but I had told myself that statistically it probably would not happen,” said Reid. “I am beyond grateful to receive the financial help for my college studies.”

For Reid, the reward goes beyond the scholarship.

“The reward of knowing that lives were saved makes it all worth it,” he says.

Want to Make an Impact Like Reid?

Hosting a blood drive is one of the most powerful ways to help patients in need. Every two seconds, someone in the U.S. needs blood, and volunteer hosts play a critical role in ensuring hospitals have lifesaving blood products ready when emergencies happen.

Ready to get started? Visit RedCrossBlood.org/HostADrive to learn how you can bring your community together for a lifesaving cause.