BALTIMORE, MD / ACCESSWIRE / March 1, 2023 / T. Rowe Price Lead Client Consultant Alexis Willis' daughter was diagnosed at a young age with sickle cell anemia, a common inherited blood disorder affecting red blood cells and that can be fatal without proper treatment and access to blood transfusions. T. Rowe Price Director of Marketing Lee Jokl is a board member for the American Red Cross of Central Maryland. His involvement in the organization was spurred after his son needed several blood transfusions as a baby.
Together, Willis and Jokl spearheaded a blood drive event for T. Rowe Price associates as an opportunity for their colleagues to give back to those fighting illness and trauma.
The Baltimore-based global investment management firm hosted a two-day blood drive on February 7 and 8 at its Baltimore and Owings Mills locations for associates who were eligible to donate. The events were coordinated in partnership with the firm's MOSAIC African Heritage Community, one of three communities under the multicultural business resource group dedicated to promoting an inclusive culture, as part of its MLK Week of Service and Black History Month agendas.
"For my family and many others, blood accessibility is a personal issue; families across the U.S. rely on blood transfusions to care for loved ones who suffer from illness or trauma," said Willis. "I know firsthand how valuable blood donation events are to supporting communities. I am so thankful to the Red Cross and my T. Rowe Price colleagues for putting on these donation events to help families like mine."
Both locations exceeded their individual donation goals with 64 units of blood donated, which will save up to an estimated 192 lives. Nearly 20% of the donations were from diverse donors and will go to support sickle cell anemia patients specifically.
"It's not every day you come home from work knowing you potentially saved a life. Today, the T. Rowe Price team can," said Jokl. "Community is at the heart of everything we do at T. Rowe Price, and there is no better way to support our community than protecting the health and wellness of those around us. Blood drives like these make it easy to participate in such a necessary and selfless act."
Education and accessibility to the blood drives aided in the success of these events. The firm hosted a lunch and learn to educate associates on the importance of diverse blood donors. With repeat donors accounting for 69% of U.S. blood donations, according to America's Blood Centers, corporate blood drives like that hosted by T. Rowe Price can help create awareness and easy access to potential donors.
The events came at an urgent time for blood donation in Maryland. In a 2022 Baltimore Sun article, Red Cross Spokeswoman Ashley Henyan shared that new donor turnout in Maryland was down more than 30% compared with previous years. Blood donations are often necessary to treat cancer patients, trauma victims, and people with chronic illness.
"T. Rowe Price embodies the definition of community and compassionate service," Misty L. Bruce, executive director, American Red Cross of Central Maryland. "I am not surprised that so many employees rolled up their sleeves in hopes of giving someone else another chance at life."
The American Red Cross must collect enough blood every day to meet the needs of accident and burn victims, heart surgery and organ transplant patients, and those receiving treatment for leukemia, cancer, or sickle cell disease. The organization encourages eligible donors of all races and ethnicities to give blood or platelets to increase the diversity of the blood supply. For more information, visit RedCrossBlood.org.
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