1. Partnering with the American Red Cross

2. Who We Are The American Red Cross is a humanitarian organization with a rich tradition of community service. We are committed to serving our communities, and we rely on businesses, places of worship, schools and other organizations to help ensure our nation has a safe, adequate blood supply.

3. What We Do The Red Cross provides blood for patients in need, collecting more than 40 percent of the nation’s supply. Single largest blood supplier in the United State Trusted provider for patients in more than 3,000 hospitals National blood inventory management system Participate in Rare Donor Registry

4. What We Do Other lines of service: Disaster Services – Each year the Red Cross responds to more than 75,000 disasters – locally, nationally and worldwide. These services are free, a donated gift of the American people. Armed Forces Emergency Services – The Red Cross operates an around-the-clock, around-the-world emergency communication network for the men and women of the armed forces and their families.

5. What We Do Health and Safety Outreach- The Red Cross has offered health and safety education for more than 90 years, helping to save lives and strengthen communities. International Humanitarian Services – A global network works to restore hope and dignity to the world’s most vulnerable people.

6. Who We Serve More than 38,000 blood donations are needed everyday to treat patients in need. Patients like Elise. Elise was born with a life-threatening heart defect. In order to save her life, Elise had to undergo an eight-hour surgery to fix her heart defect. She required 22 units of whole blood and clotting factors to make her body strong enough for surgery.

7. Who We Serve The Red Cross National Inventory Management System (NIMS) ensures the consistent availability of blood and blood components throughout the country. Local hospital needs are always met first. However, through our national network, we can quickly move blood around the country as needed. By donating to the Red Cross, donors may be helping patients not only in their community, but also their family and friends across the nation.

8. Who We Serve Hospital patients undergoing surgeries and treatments can require various amounts of blood products.

9. Becoming a Partner By partnering with the Red Cross, you are: Ensuring an adequate blood supply is available to those in need. Aligning yourself with one of the largest, most trusted non-profit organizations in America. Showing the community how much you and your place of worship care.

10. Becoming a Partner How will partnership benefit your place of worship? Your congregation will be helping to save lives in your community and beyond. Provides your congregation education about blood products and blood needs. Provides volunteerism opportunities for your congregation. Blood drive can bring your congregation together to help fulfill spiritual and social needs.

11. The Bottom Line While there is hard work and dedication involved in partnering with the Red Cross, you won’t do it alone. And the Red Cross and the patients we serve need you! “Thank you to all of the donors who help people like Elise, who so desperately need a second chance at life.” - Terri Punke, Elise’s Mom

12. The Bottom Line But don’t just take our word for it. “We at Blackhawk believe that giving blood is a demonstration of our commitment to serving others in our community and provides a blessing to our congregation in knowing what we are doing helps save lives. Hosting blood drives draws us closer together, providing us another ministry opportunity that the Red Cross makes it easy to achieve.” -Wayne Morris, Blood Drive Coordinator, Blackhawk Evangelical Free Church