250 Years of Red, White & You
As we celebrate America’s 250th birthday this summer, it's safe to say we definitely bleed red, white and blue. The best part? So do our donors and partners.
Last Thursday, we teamed up with the Eureka-Goodfield Fire Prot.Dist. Emergency Medical Services for a blood drive. As the first ground ambulance service equipped to carry blood on board in Illinois, EGFPD EMS is actively saving lives in the moments that matter most.
And last Friday, the Peoria County Government and the Central Illinois Emergency Information group hosted the Central Illinois Emergency Expo, where we were invited to advocate for the lifesaving power of blood donation. We had fun blood typing and sharing how our generous donors help provide a critical safety net during national crises through the Blood Emergency Readiness Corps (BERC).
When every second matters, the selfless actions of first responders and emergency personnel truly show that they are Heroes for Life.
Celebrating diversity across our region
We're Stronger Together.
Last week, we joined communities across our region to celebrate Juneteenth while honoring World Sickle Cell Disease Awareness Day, both of which happen annually on June 19. It was a chance to engage with our communities in Davenport, Dubuque, Cedar Rapids, Bloomington-Normal, and St Louis, spreading awareness about how to help more sickle cell warriors.
Blood transfusions are often an essential part of sickle cell treatment, and finding compatible blood often depends on maintaining a diverse donor base. Through conversations, educational outreach, and community engagement, our goal is to strengthen relationships and increase awareness about how blood donation can make a life-changing difference.
Learn more about sickle cell disease and Red4Life initiative here!
OUT FOR BLOOD IN CEDAR RAPIDS
Baseball season is in full swing! We teamed up with the Cedar Rapids Kernels for a blood drive, to encourage fans to step up to the plate and save lives this summer. The Out for Blood partnership included a free ticket to a future Kernels game for every blood donor. It was a great way to give back while ensuring lifesaving blood is available when hospitals need it.
Between the sunshine and donors rolling up their sleeves, it was a home run for saving lives.
AND THE BEAT GOES ON
At a recent blood drive with the Civil Air Patrol's Springfield Composite Squadron, Squadron Leader Kelly Jones led her cadets by example by rolling up her sleeve to show why giving back to our local community matters. By taking a seat in the donor chair, Kelly provided a powerful, hands-on lesson to her cadets: true community leadership means stepping up to help patients right here at home
This inspiring drive was held in support of Operation Pulse Lift, the Civil Air Patrol’s longest-running humanitarian mission, dedicated to supporting community blood drives across the country, the mission operates under the fitting motto, "and the beat goes on."
SHOWING UP TO SAVE LIVES
The show choir competition season brings smiles and energy to some of the longest, coldest days of the year. But the show choirs at Davenport Central High School spend weeks during the summer months learning next year's routine.
On Wednesday, they took time out of rehearsals to team up for a blood drive in the school's Performing Arts Center long after the final bell rang.
With 25 appointments on schedule, these students showed how they are Leaders for Life and always ready to help their community.
WARM WELCOME FOR GREG LEHMANN
We're excited to welcome Greg Lehmann, who joined our leadership team as Vice President, Donor Outreach and Collections, earlier this month. Greg has provided leadership in clinical operations throughout the bulk of his career, with a focus on team performance and quality patient care.
A native of Moline, Greg began his career with UnityPoint Health in 2007 before moving to Iowa Health Care in 2016. His most recent role was Department Administrative Officer for Radiology, where he led more than 500 team members in radiology services across multiple hospital locations. At ImpactLife, Greg will work with departments responsible for marketing and communications, donor recruitment, donor promotions, scheduling, and blood collection.
“Greg has a proven track record in the healthcare industry leading large operational divisions with a focus on performance, collaboration and process improvement,” said Katie Marchik, Chief Operating Officer. “And he is passionate about serving patients, communities, and teams by removing barriers to optimal performance to create consistent quality outcomes.”
Read more about Greg here!