Press Release on May 1, 2009
Rhode Island Blood Center celebrates its 30th anniversary
Since its founding some 30 years ago today, it is fair to suggest that the Rhode Island Blood Center – or rather blood donors who have been recruited by the Blood Center – have saved enough lives to repopulate Rhode Island at least twice over.
Founded on May 1, 1979, the Blood Center, now considered among the elite such facilities nationwide, has facilitated more than 2,076,000 donations from more than 443,000 distinct donors.
From its humble beginnings in a rented facility at University Heights in Providence, and with all rented equipment, the Blood Center now has five fixed donor locations (Providence, Warwick, Woonsocket, Narragansett, Middletown), five donor coaches, and some 350 employees who are involved in every aspect of blood collection and testing, and various business functions.
Formed by the hospitals in Rhode Island to develop a more efficient way of collecting, testing and distributing blood products, the Blood Center has achieved that mission and more. Each day it collects some 280 pints of blood, with the blood products destined for hospitals primarily in Rhode Island, but also in Massachusetts, Connecticut and beyond.
“We are extremely proud of our growth, and our increasing ability to assure that not only do we have safe and adequate blood products for Rhode Island, but can help our neighbors assure that patients have blood products when they need them,” said Lawrence Smith, the Blood Center’s Chief Executive Officer.
To understand the full impact of the Blood Center’s operations is to recognize that with each donation it is possible to save up to three lives. That alone would mean that donors potentially have saved the equivalent of six times Rhode Island’s population.
“We can’t underestimate the tremendous contribution that our donors have made to the health and welfare of residents throughout our region,” Smith said.
Scott Asadorian, the Blood Center’s Chief Operating Officer, said that “while we are proud of our past accomplishments, we are always looking at new ways to improve our operations and provide even greater life saving services to the region.
“The best way for residents to join in celebrating our anniversary, is to make just one extra blood donation this year, continuing to help us fulfill our mission of saving lives.”