Spring Break
Drexel wins Blood Challenge second year in row
Chris Russell
Issue date: 12/7/07 Section: News
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Drexel University has taken first place for the second year in a row in the CAA Blood Challenge, donating a record 875 productive pints of blood.
Drexel had 942 actual donors, easily eclipsing second and third place finishers The University of Delaware (678 donors) and Virginia Commonwealth University (325 donors).
In a University press release, Director of Athletics, Dr. Eric Zillmer remarked on the incredible organizational effort needed to pull off such an event to achieve such success, giving special recognition to Dr. Rebecca Gigli, Associate Athletic Director.
"There's a momentum we've created," Gigli said.
Gigli said the planning of the event came together like a "symphony" noting that the Law School, an avid new participant, made for a nice addition to the "orchestra" by sponsoring Drexel's first "Blood Mobile."
Another reason Drexel was able to surpass last year's total was the ease in registering to donate. The University is the first to implement online registration. This allowed for a higher level of convenience to students and faculty that may not have been encountered at any on-campus registration booths, and is keeping with Drexel's commitment to technology.
"[We] punctuate our commitment to civic engagement," Gigli said.
At Drexel since 1989, Gigli has not seen this philanthropic a student body in quite a while. "… if students weren't happy, they wouldn't be giving a part of themselves [to donate blood]," she said.
Asked how the American Red Cross felt about the participation of colleges in their blood donation challenges, Robyn Biskup, College Key Account Manager for the American Red Cross said, "We feel great about Drexel."
Drexel's participation in the CAA Blood Challenge is one of the biggest events in this region of the Red Cross, which includes eastern Pennsylvania and all of New Jersey.
Biskup, who works with most of the colleges in Pennsylvania and New Jersey, said that Drexel is great to work with, including Gigli.
Of the 875 usable pints collected, 2,625 potential patients can be helped with the blood, according to Biskup.
Drexel had 942 actual donors, easily eclipsing second and third place finishers The University of Delaware (678 donors) and Virginia Commonwealth University (325 donors).
In a University press release, Director of Athletics, Dr. Eric Zillmer remarked on the incredible organizational effort needed to pull off such an event to achieve such success, giving special recognition to Dr. Rebecca Gigli, Associate Athletic Director.
"There's a momentum we've created," Gigli said.
Gigli said the planning of the event came together like a "symphony" noting that the Law School, an avid new participant, made for a nice addition to the "orchestra" by sponsoring Drexel's first "Blood Mobile."
Another reason Drexel was able to surpass last year's total was the ease in registering to donate. The University is the first to implement online registration. This allowed for a higher level of convenience to students and faculty that may not have been encountered at any on-campus registration booths, and is keeping with Drexel's commitment to technology.
"[We] punctuate our commitment to civic engagement," Gigli said.
At Drexel since 1989, Gigli has not seen this philanthropic a student body in quite a while. "… if students weren't happy, they wouldn't be giving a part of themselves [to donate blood]," she said.
Asked how the American Red Cross felt about the participation of colleges in their blood donation challenges, Robyn Biskup, College Key Account Manager for the American Red Cross said, "We feel great about Drexel."
Drexel's participation in the CAA Blood Challenge is one of the biggest events in this region of the Red Cross, which includes eastern Pennsylvania and all of New Jersey.
Biskup, who works with most of the colleges in Pennsylvania and New Jersey, said that Drexel is great to work with, including Gigli.
Of the 875 usable pints collected, 2,625 potential patients can be helped with the blood, according to Biskup.
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