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by Stephen Parezo

David Ilowite, a Fiducial call center representative, decided to donate blood because “it seemed like the right thing to do.”

July 3, 2006—Fiducial employees rolled up their sleeves and donated blood last week when the American Red Cross Bloodmobile visited its Technical and Administrative Support Center (TASC) in Columbia, MD. Together with employees of neighboring companies, the blood drive netted 12 pints of blood which is enough to help save the lives of 36 people, according to the Red Cross.

Every two seconds someone in America needs blood. Though giving blood is easy, safe and takes less than one hour, only 5% of eligible Americans donate blood, says Leah Schumacher, an account representative in the donor recruitment department of the Red Cross. She thought Fiducial’s blood drive had a strong turnout and couldn’t have come at a better time.

“The summertime months are most crucial because a lot of people are on vacation,” said Schumacher. “A lot of high schools and colleges that would hold blood drives are not open. There are less drives but we need more blood.”

Each day the Red Cross gets a daily inventory of the amount of blood that it currently has. They supply 66 hospitals, the biggest of which is Johns Hopkins in Baltimore. Schumacher says many people try to schedule their surgeries around blood inventory in the summer which is difficult if there’s a shortage of a certain type of blood.

“It’s really important for everyone to look at the big picture because a lot of people assume that someone will donate,” she said. “But you never know when a family member or friend will need blood. It kind of brings it to the forefront.”

Michelle Elliott, a member of the charge staff of the Howard County unit of the Red Cross, made sure things ran smoothly during the blood drive. Asked about the state of the area’s blood supply, she said, “It’s not critical but we’re always in need.”

Human resources generalist Karen Vander Maas Walsh helped coordinate the event for Fiducial and with the approval of Columbia Management, invited employees from other companies working in the same building to participate.

“I think we had about seven people come from different companies to donate,” said Walsh who was very pleased with the drive’s turnout, the second one Fiducial has held.

“By doing this we’re showing our commitment to the community,” she said. “It’s something you can do that’s very worthwhile. I’m thrilled that we had a lot of returnees and have some new people donating.”

Walsh commended the Red Cross personnel who worked with those who are a little tentative about donating blood.

“They were very supportive,” she said.

‘The right thing to do’

There was a common thread running through the reasons why Fiducial employees decided to donate blood.

Ken Camper, Fiducial’s network and telephone system administrator, remarked that he was proud to pitch in.

“Everybody should participate because you never know when you’re going to be a recipient of a blood transfusion,” said Camper. “My father-in-law received a blood transfusion in the latter stages of his illness. It’s important.”

For Chris King, call center manager, it just seemed “like the humanitarian thing to do.”

Zachary Cohen, a field operations associate, is no stranger to making donations, having donated plasma and platelets in college. When Fiducial sponsored a blood drive, he answered the call once again.

“It’s just out of altruism,” said Cohen. “It’s kind of like take a penny, spend a penny.”

Janet Struder, a payroll processor, knew that it was a worthy cause. “It’s the least I can do if my blood can help somebody,” she said.

David Ilowite, a call center representative, recently noticed a flier asking for blood donors and decided “it was the right thing to do.”

Each unit of blood given by Fiducial employees went to the Mount Hope center in Baltimore where it would be processed and used for patients right away in the Chesapeake and Potomac Region which comprises all Maryland, Washington, D.C., southern Pennsylvania and Northern Virginia. Fiducial’s company offices were also encouraged to participate by donating blood at their local Red Cross donor center or hospital on the same day.

Stephen Parezo is the Media Manager for Fiducial.

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