Saturn National Donor Day (SNDD) is fast approaching. Thanks to the efforts of hundreds of bone marrow and blood donor recruiters, Saturn holds the largest annual lifesaving donation drive in America.
Since Donor Day’s inception in 1998, community blood centers and Saturn retailers have held more than 1,900 community drives, collected over 226,000 units of blood, added nearly 12,000 potential donors to the bone marrow registry—24 of whom have given a lifesaving marrow donation to date—and spread the word to millions of people about the need for organ donors.Beginning this year, ADRP has joined the program as a participating partner, and is working with America’s Blood Centers, North America’s largest network of community blood centers, to spread the word among its members and sign up as many events as possible.
Over the past 11 years, America’s Blood Centers and its members have benefited in many ways from this partnership. For example, the Oklahoma Blood Institute holds a multi-month long event that collects thousands of units each year. Blood Bank of the Redwoods in Santa Rosa, CA., collects hundreds of units in a single day drive. Rock River Valley Blood Center in Rockford, IL., has held its most productive drive ever in conjunction with Saturn National Donor Day. Some locations have promoted events with car washes, barbeques, Valentine’s Day gifts and even brand new Saturn giveaways.
In addition to the number of pints collected throughout this event, blood centers also benefit from the publicity generated by this unique national program. Every year, nearly an inch of clippings is gathered from all print media nationwide. Some secondary markets are also able to secure TV and radio broadcasts in connection to National Donor Day.
February 14 is the official National Donor Day; however, it is up to each individual participant how and when Donor Day Events take place. In the past, the most successful events have shown a common pattern that can be associated with the outcome of the event. The six key points of a successful event are:
- Enthusiastic and committed local chairperson and retailer;
- Event enrollment and communication to Saturn;
- Community promotion (advertising) and donor recognition items;
- Coordination and cooperation with other partner organizations and among area retailers;
- Willingness to think “outside the box” to extend the limits of the event to relocate and/or incorporate other local sponsors;
- Efficient utilization of materials provided by Saturn.
Saturn National Donor Day provides blood banking with a unique opportunity to join forces not only with other blood centers, but with other players in the lifesaving community. This monumental event grows stronger and larger each year, spreading awareness for the need of blood and organ donors.