Vitalant

Our Biotherapies team is back from #MeetingOnTheMesa last week, and they are that much more motivated to help advance lifesaving cell and gene therapies!   Becky Cap presented how our team helps innovators overcome real-world hurdles in cell collection, processing, testing, and clinical delivery. The team, which includes Robert Van Tuyle, Brianna Schoen, Robert Marriott and Christie Loe Malone, was also able to talk about our role, leveraging our widespread community infrastructure to deliver solutions for patients in our communities. Vitalant fills gaps between hospitals, developers, and patients, and our broad range of services is available across a wide geography under a single contract.    The team was moved by the touching patient stories shared and impressed with the meeting’s focus on expanding therapies into communities as indications and patient populations grow.   Want to learn more? Reach out at biotherapies@vitalant.org

Some people retire. Dave just changed how he serves his community. He began donating whole blood back in the late seventies, added regular platelet donations in the eighties, and hasn’t slowed down since. After retiring, Dave became a volunteer hospital services driver with Vitalant in 2016, making sure lifesaving blood products reach the patients who need them most. With 15 years of service as a Reserve Deputy with the Pennington County Sheriff’s Office, Dave knows the importance of stepping up for his community. “Being a volunteer is something I have done most of my life,” he says. Thank you, Dave, for showing us what service looks like. If you want to make a difference too, volunteer with Vitalant and support our lifesaving mission. Find opportunities near you: vitalant.org/volunteer

Joshua has seen firsthand how powerful blood donation can be in saving lives. He’s been part of Vitalant for 2 years, helping donors make a difference. But a few months ago, he experienced that impact in the most personal way. Shortly after giving birth to their baby girl, Joshua’s wife began hemorrhaging. She was losing blood fast. Thanks to a timely blood transfusion, her life was saved. Situations like this happen in about 1 out of every 83 childbirths. Want to work where your impact is vital? ➡️ vitalant.org/careers

When your purpose is saving lives, it doesn’t stop at a job change. After 18 years with Vitalant, Rhonda’s passion for blood donation didn’t end when she moved into her role as Volunteer Services Manager at her local hospital. It grew even stronger. Now, she coordinates quarterly blood drives for hospital employees and leads their annual “Rock ’N Roll Up Your Sleeve” event every June, complete with fun flair and lifesaving results. “I’ve seen the need for blood on both a personal and professional level,” she says. “It’s the blood already on the shelves that saves lives.” This Blood Drive Coordinator Appreciation Week, we’re celebrating Rhonda and all the coordinators who turn passion into purpose and help make every donation possible. Learn more about becoming a blood drive coordinator: vitalant.org/BloodDrive

It takes a really special kind of person to be a Blood Drive Coordinator. They donate their time and energy to help even more patients. This Blood Drive Coordinator Appreciation Week, we’d love to say thank you to the individuals who make our mission possible. We appreciate everything you do.

Her husband needed hundreds of transfusions to survive. So she made it her mission to give back. When LaVonne’s husband, Richard, was diagnosed with myelodysplastic syndrome, which causes abnormal production of blood cells in the bone marrow, blood transfusions became his lifeline. Generous donors made it possible for him to keep fighting. Grateful for those who gave, LaVonne started donating herself, and later began organizing blood drives at her church. Years later, she’s reached a milestone of 16 gallons donated. This Blood Drive Coordinator Appreciation Week, we celebrate LaVonne and all coordinators who inspire their communities to give and save lives. Every donation carries their dedication and heart. Learn how you can join LaVonne in making a difference for patients relying on transfusions: vitalant.org/BloodDrive

Our fifth annual Blood Drive Coordinator Appreciation Week begins today, and it's more than a thank you. It's a celebration of the volunteers who make every blood drive a success. Michael channels his passion into coordinating drives that save lives. Last year, the drives he helped organize added four extra dates, helping more people give and more patients get the care they need. Saving lives is a team effort. Every donor welcomed, every story shared, every lifesaving unit collected starts with coordinators like Michael. This week, we honor their energy, dedication, and the impact they create in every community. Celebrate Blood Drive Coordinator Appreciation Week, October 6-10, and the everyday heroes making lifesaving possible. Learn how you can become a blood drive coordinator: vitalant.org/BloodDrive

From hospital shelves to advanced therapies, our impact reaches patients in more ways than one.   Vitalant’s work extends far beyond blood donation. With the help of donors and partners, we’re ensuring patients have what they need, whether it’s lifesaving transfusions during surgery or access to innovative biotherapies for difficult-to-treat conditions.   This impact is possible because of a community that gives, supports, and believes in a healthier future for all.   Take a closer look at the lives touched through the power of donation and partnership. Swipe through the slides below and view our full impact report to learn more: https://lnkd.in/g8FZt4bS

Nearly 420 donations later, Rich is still racing. Only now, the focus is on saving lives. What began as a competition with a college friend became personal when his wife needed blood during childbirth. That moment reshaped his perspective and sparked a deeper commitment. Rich chose to Power Up his donation and give platelets after learning how vital they are for cancer patients, trauma victims, and others in urgent need. With a shelf life of up to 7 days, patients depend on dedicated donors to keep them available. If you're ready to take your own impact to the next level, become part of a community of dedicated donors who ensure patients never have to wait: vitalant.org/VitalElite

A donated heart gave Denise a second chance. Donated blood made it possible. When Denise needed a heart transplant, generous blood donors made her surgery possible and gave her the gift of more time. Today, she’s paying it forward by encouraging others to donate and through her nonprofit that supports heart transplant patients and families facing financial challenges. On #WorldHeartDay we celebrate the incredible strength of the human heart and the donors who make stories like Denise’s possible. Your donation keeps hearts beating and hope alive. #GiveBlood: vitalant.org