American Red Cross Blood Drive

The Lloyd Newman Blood Drive for Sickle Cell Anemia was a huge success. Thank you to everyone who made Friday’s blood drive such a success! We were able to collect 37 units which could potentially save up to 111 lives! There were 24 first-time donors too! 

Sponsored by The American Red Cross, Sickle Cell Disease Association of Illinois, National Pan-Hellenic Council of Chicago and the Chicago Teachers Union Foundation, the event combined blood donation with learning about sickle cell anemia’s impact via a panel discussion.

This blood drive is in honor of Lloyd Newman, a CPS graduate and a co-author of ‘Our America’ who recently passed in his mid-40s from sickle cell anemia. The panelists discussed what sickle cell disease is and why the impact of people of color is so disparate. They also discussed how to change the narrative and trust back into healthcare to support people knowing how common it is to have the genetic trait.

Panelists:  

• Carmen Perry, The American Red Cross

• W. Terrell Burgess, Chicago Public Schools

• Talana Hughes, Sickle Cell Disease Association of Illinois

• Dr. Liem, Lurie’s Children

• Tara Stamps, Chicago Teachers Union (Moderator)

Event Invite

We want to host an American Red Cross Blood Drive! To schedule a drive, we need a minimum of 40 people interested in donating blood. Let’s come together and become partners in saving lives!

If you are at least 17 years old, 16 years old with a signed Red Cross parental/guardian consent form where state permits, weigh at least 110 pounds and are in good health, you may be eligible to give blood. High school students and other donors 18 years old and younger must also meet other height and weight requirements.

Giving blood is safe, and simple and helps save lives. Each pint of blood that is donated may be helping as many as three people. The American Red Cross is the largest single provider of blood in the country. They provide blood to 3,000 hospitals across the country. About 38,000 people need blood each day in the United States. Those people count on volunteer donors to give them a chance at life.

Many individuals who are Black have distinct markers on their red blood cells that make their donations ideal for helping patients with sickle cell disease. More than half of blood donors who are Black have blood that is free of C, E and K antigens – making them the best match for those with sickle cell disease. 

Expressing gratitude to black leader Dr. Charles Drew for creating the blood banks to encourage Black blood donations.

This blood drive honors Lloyd Newman, a CPS graduate and a co-author of ‘Our America’ who recently passed in his mid-40s from sickle cell.