Andrea Primas (right) and Cydney Harris (left) donate blood during the DreamHer Camp visit to the Red Cross Blood and Platelet Donation Center in Plano, Texas. (Doyle Rader/American Red Cross)
The DreamHer Camp in Richardson, Texas, is teaching teen girls about the positive effects of blood donation and how they or someone they know can contribute. Nikki Jordan, one of the camp’s directors, collaborated with American Red Cross Interim Regional Communications Director Doyle Rader to organize an event dedicated to raising awareness about blood donation.
On Wednesday, June 11, 2025, Jordan and co-directors Andrea Primas and Cydney Harris—known as "the trio"—transported 28 girls and five interns from various schools and socioeconomic backgrounds to a blood donation center to learn more about the donation process.
At the center, Blood Collections Technician DaCiea Cox provided a facility tour and led the day's training, covering topics such as donation requirements, the donation process and tools, the functions of plasma, platelets, and blood cells, safety standards, blood collection, storage, and transportation, and a Q&A session.
Cox, who is committed to inspiring more African Americans to donate blood, emphasized its significance for patients with sickle cell anemia and the critical need for blood supply in hospitals. The students also watched educational videos and enjoyed snacks provided for donors.
"The trio" enthusiastically donated blood as the girls cheered them on. Jordan emphasized the importance of giving teens access to information that would push them forward. "Seeing is believing," she said. The more you experience something, the more it gets ingrained in you."
Regarding the donation experience, Jordan added, "Any nervousness I’ve had is gone because I know the impact it's going to make on [the students] and somebody’s life."
Reflecting on the event’s impact, Jordan praised the American Red Cross, saying, "The American Red Cross is amazing and does so much more than I ever could have thought." Asked to sum up the day in one word, she said, "empowering"—precisely what "the trio" set out to accomplish.
Founded by Primas in 2022, DreamHer Camp is dedicated to building young girls' confidence while empowering them to become creators, innovators, and leaders through STEM and other experiences. To become a donor, speaker, sponsor or volunteer, visit www.dreamhercamp.org.
To donate blood with the Red Cross, visit RedCrossBlood.org, call 1-800-RED CROSS or use the Red Cross Blood Donor app.
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