Will Kohn: Little heart, big impact
Blood donors have heart. For Will Kohn, that heart meant more time to make more memories.
It's Heart Month, so we're sharing the story of a seven-year-old Bettendorf boy who made a big impact during his far-too-short life.
The Quad Cities community followed his heart journey back in 2017, when his parents Meghan and Chris created the Team Where There's a Will There's A Way Facebook page.
Will was born in 2010 with hypoplastic left heart syndrome (HLHS) and spent much of his young life in and out of the hospital. He was the very first patient at the University of Iowa Stead Family Children's Hospital in Iowa City. He was even featured in a USA Today story about the Iowa Wave.
National Donor Day
National Donor Day took center stage yesterday afternoon at the Iowa State Capitol.
Community members and advocates gathered in Des Moines to honor the power of donation. Katie Marchik (Chief Operating Officer), Lori Arguello (Director, Marketing and Public Relations), and Kirby Winn (Manager, Public Relations) were there representing our team and supporting the mission of saving lives.
A special moment came from Alma Brunson, a dedicated blood donation advocate and the mother of Micaela Brunson. Micaela died by suicide while she was in high school. Through organ donation, she went on to save several lives. Alma continues to turn her family's story into action by hosting blood drives, encouraging others to give, and spreading mental health awareness.
The event highlighted how Iowans make a difference every day through blood, organ, eye, and tissue donation, while also recognizing the many patients still waiting for lifesaving transplants.
Xin Nián Kuài Lè! (Happy Lunar New Year!)
Diverse blood donors save diverse lives, and that matters more than most people realize.
We were proud to be part of Springfield's Lunar New Year celebration last Saturday, at an event created by our own Teresa Tran (Account Manager).
Two years ago, Teresa set a personal goal to help build a stronger, more visible Asian community in Springfield so her son would never feel alone in who he is. Lunar New Year 2026 marked her third cultural event in the area, with two more already in motion.
For Teresa, this work is deeply personal. She shared how seeing her son embrace his Vietnamese identity has made every late night and planning meeting worth it. Her message is simple: If a space does not exist for you, you can help build it.
The family-friendly celebration brought people together to honor tradition, uplift culture, and connect across Springfield's diverse communities.
Students Experience Mixed Reality
Saving lives got a virtual upgrade at Centennial High School.
Students in Champaign, Illinois, stepped up to donate blood, and many did it with the help of our mixed reality headsets. The immersive technology is designed to distract donors who may feel nervous, giving them something to focus on while they give.
“The donors can still see everything going on, but it allows them to escape just a little bit and distract them from the donation process,” said Chad Sabin, community development advocate. “We hear sometimes that people don't like to donate blood because they have a fear of needles or they're just anxious about the process, so our goal here is to make them feel more at ease.”
We had a full schedule, with 66 students and staff donating!