HIGH POINT, N.C., Sept. 13, 2012 – High Point University honored Patriot’s Day by hosting the year’s first blood drive on Sept. 11 with extraordinary results.
Students, faculty and staff donated a total of 213 pints of blood – which will help save 639 lives. Sponsored by the HPU student-run Volunteer Center, this is the first of several blood drives the school hosts throughout the academic year.
“As a community, we embrace caring and service,” says Gail Tuttle, vice president for Student Life. “Our students form one caring community and this is a volunteer concept that all students can participate in; it’s a gift of their time that equates to an infinite level of caring.”
And those who donate know they are taking part in a worthy cause, such as Grant Weinzierl, a sophomore from Charlotte, N.C.
“I’m giving blood because I know that when I give blood, I am helping all those people who are in desperate need of aid,” Weinzierl says. “I have been doing this for the past six years, and I will continue to.”
The blood drive also took part during Greek Week, a series of events that focuses on philanthropy and service.
“Donating blood is obviously a huge service to others, so it was important to the Greek Week Committee to include this; this is the second year that we have included a blood drive among our philanthropy events,” says Teri Cugliari, director of Greek Life.