Every year on June 14, we celebrate World Blood Donor Day by recognizing and thanking the generous donors who make lifesaving transfusions possible. As a blood drive coordinator, you play a crucial role in this mission, inspiring and organizing the donors who give selflessly to help patients in need.
This global event serves as a reminder of the ongoing need for blood donations. While this one day highlights the impact of donors, the need for blood never takes a day off. Your dedication ensures that patients facing trauma surgery or chronic illness always have the blood they need to survive.
A true team in every sense of the word, Gil and Linda (pictured) recently celebrated 55 years of marriage and 
more than 30 years hosting blood drives with Vitalant. During that time, they have organized 125 blood drives, collecting approximately 5,000 units of blood.
Gil, a lifelong blood donor, first donated in college and later throughout his military service in the 1960s. “It’s something I think is important,” Gil said. “It gives me a good feeling to know I’m helping people.”
Even their children participate, making blood donation something of a family tradition. One of the blood drives the couple hosted was just two weeks before Gil needed to undergo open-heart surgery, and knowing blood was available for his surgery reaffirmed his commitment to the cause.
 This World Blood Donor Day, we also celebrate YOU — the driving force behind every successful blood drive. Thank you for your passion, commitment, and for making a real difference in the lives of so many. We hope you host your next blood drive soon, and inspire donors to take action once more.