When We Celebrate We Do It Right. #BlackHistoryMonth

You're Making Us Proud Portland.

The Portland Red Cross received an incredible gift to help us celebrate the first day of Red Cross Month!

See the photo to the right? That's not just another cluttered desk - each slip of paper (blurred for privacy) in this massive stack represents a person's commitment to donating blood or platelets, getting trained in CPR/1st Aid, volunteering for disaster relief, providing financial assistance, or a combination of these lifesaving actions.

This overwhelming response came as a result of two recent outreach events in the city. Wow.

To all of you Portlanders who have a long history of supporting us, are just recently commiting to help or are considering that first step in making a difference for those in need, we thank you.

Saving. Giving. Living. Join In.

February: Red Cross Partners with Body Worlds and the Brain!

Starting Friday, the Red Cross is partnering with Gunther von Hagens’ Body Worlds and the Brain! All blood and platelet donors who present to donate on Friday or Saturday during the month of February at the Portland, Salem, or Vancouver Red Cross donor centers will receive a free ticket to the Body Worlds and the Brain exhibit.

Appointments are preferred and you can schedule your donation appointment online at a Body Worlds blood drive or call 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767).

All-New Exhibition
BODY WORLDS & The Brain includes more than 200 authentic human specimens—including entire bodies, individual organs, and transparent body slices—preserved through von Hagens’ plastination process. This all-new presentation highlights neuroscience, brain development, and performance and invites profound reflection on the power, beauty, and fragility of the amazing human body and brain. Specimens on display stem from body donors, individuals who donated their bodies specifically to the Institute for Plastination.

Exhibition location information:
OMSI 1945 SE Water Ave. Portland, OR 97214
503-797-4000 I www.omsi.edu/bodyworlds

Hours of operation:
Sunday – Thursday 9:30am – 5:30pm
Friday – Saturday 9:30am – 9:00pm

Donor eligibility involves minimum age, weight and health requirements. Donors must present a donor card, driver's license or two other forms of ID prior to donation. Individuals unable to donate blood can still make a contribution by sponsoring a Red Cross blood drive or volunteering with a local Red Cross Blood Services Region, making a financial contribution, or by learning more about the American Red Cross Humanitarian Services.

Our website's First-Time Donor section includes information about what to expect when giving blood, tips for a successful donation, and an explanation of what happens to your donated blood.

Weiss-Parker Family Reaches Year Thirty-Seven in Blood Donation Legacy

On January 7, 2012, four generations of the Weiss-Parker family assembled at the American Red Cross Red Cross Portland Donor Center, just north of Legacy Emanuel Hospital to give blood together as a family tradition for the thirty-seventh year! After giving blood, they continued their tradition by having family breakfast at a local pancake house.

Family representative, Sam Weiss, son of Morris Weiss, wants others to learn about giving blood to the American Red Cross. "In this day and age of families struggling to maintain a quality of family life, traditions such as this contribute significantly to the family bonding together. Bonding together not only as an extended family, but a family that has found a way to contribute to other families by their gift of life."

The blood donation tradition was started by Morris Weiss in 1976 as a "Living New Year’s Resolution" and he demonstrated his commitment by donating 22 gallons of blood during his lifetime. "The family is continuing where Morris left off making just over 1,300 blood donations to help hospital patients in need" said, Daphne Mathew, American Red Cross spokesperson. "When you consider that blood can be separated into several different components –- often helping more than one patient -- their contribution is even more impactful."

The Stormtroopers vs. Klingons drive was OUT OF THIS WORLD!

The 2nd Annual Stormtroopers vs. Klingons blood drive was OUT OF THIS WORLD! A huge thanks to Rachel Stark at The Oregonian for writing this incredible feature, to the outstanding efforts from members of Cloud City Garrison (The 501st Legion) and Kashyyyk Base, from Starfleet International, Think Geek, KGW, KPTV, Portland Mercury, Willamette Week, PDX PIPELINE, Portland Pulp and"tweet support" from Portlandia!

But don't take it from us...follow us to @RedCrossBloodNW and see what our other "twitter critics" are saying about the sequel!

Pizza for a Pint! (December 26 - January 2)

Come in to Donate Blood at the Portland, Salem, and Vancouver Donor Centers Between December 26, 2011 and January 2, 2012 to Receive a Coupon for One FREE Large One-Topping Pizza* from Papa Murphy’s

During the holiday season, blood donations often decrease as threats of wintery weather intensify and family schedules turn hectic. Every two seconds, someone in this country needs blood. On average, 1,000 blood donations are needed in the Pacific Northwest Blood Services Region each day to help trauma victims, surgical patients, burn victims, patients with blood disorders and many others.

Schedule your appointment at a blood drive near you or call 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767).

Coupons will be given to all presenting donors at the above donor centers and can be used immediately at any participating Papa Murphy's locations. Some restrictions may apply. Offer valid only at participating Papa Murphy's locations.

Please schedule your donation appointment today. Check out Papa Murphy’s website for menu items and follow this link for a list of participating locations.

*While supplies last.

Thanksgiving Day Blood Drives!

Give of yourself this holiday, start a great Thanksgiving tradition for you and your family by helping to save a life. Join us on Thursday, November 24th for one of our annual Thanksgiving blood drives at the Portland, Salem, or Vancouver Red Cross donor centers.

All presenting donors will receive a free holiday t-shirt, a free pumpkin pie donated by Thriftway, and a $10 OFF discount for any performance of “A Christmas Story” at Portland Center Stage.*

To make an appointment for a Thanksgiving Day Blood Drive donation, schedule your appointment for the nearest drive listed below or call 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767).

Thanksgiving Day Blood Drive Locations and Hours:

Portland Donor Center
3131 N. Vancouver Ave.
Portland, OR 97227
7:00am – 12:00pm

Clark County Donor Center
5109 NE 82nd Avenue
Vancouver, WA 98862
7:30 am – 12:30 pm

Salem Donor Center
475 Cottage Street NE, Suite 110
Salem, OR 97301
7:30 am – 12:30 pm

*Giveaway items while supplies last

A Marriage With A Mission

Having worked a summer job as a sports camp counselor, one might think back on memorable baseball games, dodgeball and maybe even a first bee sting. Few would assume, however, that a summer camp would be the location where one locks eyes with a future husband or wife.

For Tim and Rachelle Overholser, who met as counselors from rival high schools at camp, the connection was instant. They began spending time together and started dating later on, maintaining a long distance relationship across the California/Oregon border for three years.

Beyond a love for sports that jump-started Rachelle and Tim’s relationship, they also began an incredible commitment to “date nights” as platelet donors at the Red Cross. This tradition, which started about four years ago when Rachelle would come up to visit Tim in Portland, grew into a cause they felt very strongly about, especially as they began their wedding planning.

“As we planned for our wedding, we knew we wanted to incorporate the American Red Cross,” Rachelle said. “With all of our positive experiences in donating, we wanted to give back on our special day, and help share the need with our guests.”

Tim and Rachelle decided that, in lieu of wedding guest favors, they instead wanted to donate their funds as a monetary gift to the Red Cross. That wasn’t the end of the couple’s outstanding generosity. Upon Tim and Rachelle’s request, the Red Cross also created personalized table cards explaining their appeal for donations to wedding guests, along with information about apheresis and blood donation.

After an awe-inspiring marriage ceremony, the overjoyed newlyweds took a few moments to talk about continuing their platelet donation date nights…or afternoons, as Rachelle put it, in Portland. “The staff is awesome…and you get to know them,” Tim said. “They do a great job of taking care of you. I always feel comfortable.”

“Even if I can’t donate because of something like low iron, they still arrange for me to sit by Tim and finish a movie,” Rachelle agreed. “I think they’re just happy you’re there.”

Tim and Rachelle no longer have long distance to worry about for future date nights they’re both involved with work and school at Concordia University…just down the street from the Portland Donor Center.

As a final note, Rachelle felt compelled to mention that, although they shared their special day with the Red Cross through financial donations and promotional table cards, “We still had to have an overall sports theme for the wedding…complete with cake toppers of a ‘baseball batter bride’ and the groom as the pitcher!”

Tim and Rachelle’s wedding was surely an “out of the ballpark” success, and as far as the Red Cross is concerned, this kindhearted couple is truly in a league of their own.

Photo courtesy of Gordon Kelly Photography