UTC Campus to Host Largest Blood Drive in Chattanooga

Blood Assurance, the non-profit regional blood center, is sponsoring the
largest one-day blood drive in the history of Chattanooga. Bloodanooga
is scheduled for Tuesday, March 31 at UTC McKenzie Arena.

The goal for the blood drive is to collect 1600 units of blood in 16
hours. Donors can give blood between 8 a.m. and midnight.

Bloodanooga was created to serve as a community-wide effort in
maintaining a consistent blood supply for area hospitals. Currently,
less than 10 percent of all eligible donors in the United States
actually give blood. 

"Whether students are temporary residents or Chattanooga natives, Blood
Assurance is responsible for providing blood for everyone in need in the
Chattanooga community," said Bonnie Phillips, marketing and special
events coordinator.

"This is one way students can contribute to the local community," said
Phillips who adds that Blood Assurance also provides blood products to
31 surrounding counties throughout four states. 

"If you live within two hours of Chattanooga, chances are that Blood
Assurance is the sole provider of blood products to those hospitals,"
said Phillips.

Although Blood Assurance hosts blood drives throughout the area, this
will be the first community-wide event hosted by the organization. The
largest amount of blood collected by Blood Assurance occurred in 2001
after the September 11 terrorist attacks, when 2,144 units of blood were
collected between September 11 and September 13.

Online appointments can be made by visiting www.bloodanooga.org . Donors
will receive a complimentary snack and t-shirt. Visitors can also
register for hourly drawings as well as Blood Assurance's monthly
giveaway.

Bloodanooga will also showcase good music.  From 6:30 - 8:30 pm, The
Chattanooga Spectrum Big Band, will be providing music from the 1920's,
30's, 40's, and 50's, including compositions by Duke Ellington, Count
Basie, Ray Charles, and a host of others. This diverse group of members
of the Chattanooga Community includes faculty, staff and students from
UTC.    

Volunteers are also needed for Bloodanooga. For more information about
volunteering, please contact Frankie Garvich at 423-752-5911 or by email
at [log in to unmask]

For more information about Bloodanooga, please contact Bonnie Philips at
423-752-8465 or by email at [log in to unmask]  


###

Blood Assurance is a non-profit regional blood center founded in 1972 in
Chattanooga, TN. As the only supplier of blood products for 47 area
healthcare facilities, Blood Assurance is committed to maintaining a
safe and adequate supply of blood for all patients in need. To
sufficiently meet the demands of our hospitals, Blood Assurance must
collect 101,000 units of blood each year. As the only community blood
center, all donations collected from our donors remain in the immediate
area to serve the needs of local patients.