Omega Psi Phi Blood Drive Honors Dr. Charles Drew, Supports Sickle Cell Patients

Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc. will be hosting a blood drive on Monday, November 15 from 10am-3pm at the American Red Cross at 510 E. Chestnut Street, Louisville, KY.

Severe pain, stroke and organ damage are sickle cell
disease complications. Transfusions provide healthy
red blood cells to deliver oxygen through the
body and unblock blood vessels. 

The blood drive honors the work of Dr. Charles Drew, the first Medical Director of American Red Cross Blood Services, and is part of the Red Cross sickle cell initiative blood drives. Patients living with sickle cell disease often face ongoing blood transfusions, and helping donate can make a lifesaving difference. That is why the American Red Cross has launched an initiative to grow the number of blood donors who are Black to help patients with sickle cell disease. The blood drive will also focus on Sickle Cell Trait Screening.

Sickle cell is the most common genetic blood disease in the US. Blood transfusion is a key treatment. Most patients with the disease are of African descent and rely on blood given by people of the same race or ethnicity.

“Partnerships with national and local organizations within the Black community are critical to building trust, sharing information, and working together to engage new donors to help save lives,” said Kevin Holston, Theta Omega Chapter of Omega Psi Phi.

All presenting donors will receive a $20 gift card by email, thanks to our partners at Amazon. Donors are encouraged to make an appointment by calling 1-800-RED CROSS, visiting RedCrossBlood.org or downloading the free Blood Donor App.

Grandson Honors Grandfather and Red Cross Volunteer through Memorial Blood Drive

Communities across the country count on the Red Cross for help every day – and supporting those communities is at the heart of our mission. Lee Taylor, a late volunteer with the Louisville Area Chapter Red Cross, spent his life giving back to his community.

By day, Lee was a firefighter with the Louisville Fire Department – a role he held for 36 years. He went on to be a Battalion Chief until his retirement in 1996. As a Red Cross volunteer, Lee assisted others in his community and around the country. He deployed nationally to disasters like hurricanes, and responded locally to home fires in the Louisville Area to offer comfort and hope to people in need. He was also an avid blood donor, and donated around 40 gallons over the course of 52 years.

Lee Taylor (right) with grandson Javier

In honor of Lee’s service to the community and dedication to the Red Cross mission, his grandson, 16-year-old Javier Bernard, is hosting a blood drive in his memory at First Christian Church in Jeffersonville, Indiana. 

“Pappy battled bladder cancer for 4 years and received blood products during his treatment and surgery,” said Javier. “This is my way of honoring him and giving back to my community.”

This blood drive also holds a special significance as Javier’s final step in becoming an Eagle Scout.

“[Lee] is the reason I got involved with scouts,” said Javier. “He used to take me to my meetings at First Christian Church. He helped me with several of my projects and merit badges. My Pappy was an avid blood donor and I want to honor him.”

To Javier, Lee Taylor was a titan in his community. For this reason, Javier is calling the blood drive the “Taylor’s Titans” Memorial Blood Drive. The drive has a goal of 75 units of blood, but Javier wants to fill as many appointment slots as possible in honor of his grandfather and hopes that firefighters, first responders, Boy Scouts and Red Cross volunteers will roll up a sleeve to donate.

“Through this drive, Pappy’s memory lives on,” said Javier.

Taylor’s Titans Memorial Blood drive will be held at First Christian Church at 3209 Middle Road, Jeffersonville, IN 47130 on November 13 from 11:00 AM - 05:00 PM. The drive is open to the public and donors are encouraged to make an appointment by calling 1-800-RED CROSS, visiting RedCrossBlood.org or downloading the free Blood Donor App.