Reflections on the 6th annual memorial blood drive

Yesterday (January 25, 2008) was the 6th annual memorial blood drive in Sparks building. BUT, the drive beyond PSU goes on! Please keep donating and sending me notes and photos (janicekrieger@gmail.com) as posting names to the list of donors makes me feel profoundly happy.

I found this year, as I have for the past 5 years, that absorbing myself in the business of a blood drive was a useful outlet for all the emotions the month of January brings. But, a few days ago, I found myself halted in my busy little tracks by a posting on another blog (the note from coach on a blog written by one of Mandy's childhood friends). Part of the comment said, "When you think of her and others you have lost, be incredibly grateful for the wisdom that their lives have imparted on you."

When I think about Mandy, I am always reminded that there is nothing more important in life than the love and care we show for one another. I am often accused of being unrealistically optimistic for believing that each of us can make a positive difference in this life. But Mandy did, and so did each and every person who participated in this blood drive. Thank you to EVERYONE who donated (or plan to) your time, energy, and resources to give the gift of life to others. These were truly acts of love.

And now for the numbers...

The long distance blood drive has really helped us take this effort national! Thus far, we have had 23 donations (or attempts) from 8 states and 1 district :-) We are still counting, so stay tuned...

The traditional blood drive held in Sparks Building yesterday was also extremely successful. They had 39 attempts, with 29 pints of blood collected. Most importantly, 12 of the donors were first-time donors! A heart-felt thank you to Hillary Jones, Mary Haman, and the rest of the Penn State Communication Arts & Sciences graduate students who put so much time, energy, and love into this event. Check back soon for photos...

Watch our progress....

Number of units collected/attempted to date: 23!

Thank you to our BLOOD DONORS:

Tracy Hunter, Danville PA*
Mary Lou Raup, Danville PA*
Carrie Kundrat, Memphis TN
Linnea Overman, Columbus, OH
Parul Jain, Columbus, OH
Danielle Orbash, Miami, OH
Brandi Roland, Washington DC
Craig Sharman, Washington DC
Michael Melia, Boston MA
Maggie Pitts, Norfolk VA
Doris Parke, Norfolk VA
Walid Afifi, Santa Barbara CA
Jill Adams Mastromatteo, Abingdon, MD
Angela Fernandez-Plonczyk, Philadelphia PA*
Mark Parrella, Memphis TN
Diana Baker, Montandon PA
Deana Casale, San Diego, CA
John Caughlin, Champaign, IL
Jay Hartey, Allentown, PA
Todd McCormack, Allentown, PA
Mai Nguyen, Allentown, PA
Tim Lambert, Allentown, PA
Janice Myers, Allentown, PA

* First-time blood donor

Thank you to those who VOLUNTEERED/ GAVE DONATIONS in Amanda's memory:

Parul Jain, Columbus, OH
Janice Krieger, Columbus, OH
Maggie Pitts, Norfolk, VA
Jennifer Aber Korbly, Acton, MA
Margaret Barrett, Milford, MA
Nick Barrett, Watertown, MA
Kristie Kalvin, University Park, PA
Joanne Kundrat, Philadelphia, PA
Kyoko Matsumura, University Park, PA
Mike and Wendy Matthews, Arlington, VA
Maureen Minielli, Staten Island, NY
Susan and Scott Nichols, State College, PA
Lisa G. Perks, Austin, TX
Julie Volkman, University Park, PA
Jim Yupcavage, Hanover, NH
Kerstin Humphrys and family, Dublin OH

We also appreciate the support of the following businesses in State College and Bellefonte: Dunkin Donuts, Giant Food Stores, Sheetz, Wal-Mart, and Weis Market.

Red Cross meets the Redhawks

Danielle Orbash, a graduate student at Miami University working with our very own Dr. Judi Weiner, donated blood as part of the memorial drive on January 18, 2008. Thank you Danielle! And thanks for spreading the word, Jude :)

Children's Hospital Boston Blood Donor

I wanted to let you know that I just donated a pint of blood at the Children's Hospital in Boston, MA in honor of Amanda. Amanda's brother-in-law Mark is a good friend of mine; he let me know about the blood drive via email earlier this month. Although I only had the pleasure of meeting Amanda once, she immediately struck me as a wonderful and kind person. Thank you for inviting me to participate in this year's blood drive, and please include me on future mailings to I might continue to participate in the future. Best, Michael Melia

Blood drive visits Santa Barbara

I gave blood today in Amanda's memory...it was fantastic...but a trip, as always. So, I show up and I see this bus...then the assistant who I asked to take pics was apparently trying to flirt with me and sorta went nutty with the camera. :) Then the person taking the blood (see the gal in the pic - she was adamant not to be in the picture) started trading stories about the camera...then was amazed at my veins and, again, as they all do when I give blood told me that I'm a "great bleeder"...fantastic. The good news is it only took 4 minutes to fill up a unit of blood... :) Just another day in wacky California ! :) --Walid Afifi (one of Amanda's professors at Penn State during her graduate program).

Donating blood in the Old Dominion

Doris (the head administrative assistant in the Department of Communication and Theatre Arts) and I (Assistant Prof in the same department) were very happy to head to the Red Cross in downtown Norfolk to donate blood in honor of Amanda. We felt like school children going to recess as we packed up our purses and said "later" to all the office staff and other faculty members - skipping out on work on a Friday for a good cause -- smiling broadly! We donated very quickly - both of us had solid iron counts and "good veins!" Then, we took our time at the recovery table where we helped ourselves to juice, pretzels, cookies, and water -- oddly, there was no one staffing the recovery area! It made me miss donating at Penn State where the canteen was the best part!

The Red Cross staff was captivated by Amanda's story and our efforts to make this a national memorial blood drive. I am touched to see how many people donated blood (especially first-time donors) and volunteered time in this effort. This is the first year that we tried to coordinate a national memorial blood drive and I am convinced that as the years proceed we will have Amanda Kundrat memorial blood drives popping up at universities and other settings all over the nation. This isn't a one time deal! Let's do it every year and each year bring an additional friend!

I know others from Old Dominion University are also going to donate blood in honor of Amanda in the next month and will keep you posted!

Love and Health, Maggie

Philadelphia, PA @ City Fitness Gym

I was really excited to donate blood, for the first time, in memory of Amanda Kundrat. Unfortunately, my veins are "too thin...paper thin"; Of all things on me having to be too skinny, why is it just my veins?!?!?!?! Anyway, I will continue to tell my friends and family to get out there and donate for Amanda.
Thanks,
Angela Fernandez-Plonczyk

Another donation from Memphis, TN

I just came home from donating. Carrie snapped this photo as Knox was greeting me. I'm happy that I could be a part of this great national effort in Mandy's (my sister-in-law and good friend) name.

Here's to you Mandy.

Lots of love, Mark