Dana Massey with Sam Houston Electric Co-op is shown with the Path for Success award that was given by The Blood Center East Texas in recognition of their Commit for Life partnership. SHECO hosts a minimum of four drives a year helping the blood center maintain a safe and adequate blood supply for patients in the area. They have been the recipient of the Small Business of the Year award in the past and continue their dedication to community service by joining efforts with the blood center. To learn more about becoming a Commit for Life partner for patients in Memorial Medical Center in Livingston call 1-888-433-1733.

Michael Preston and Lelia Davis with the Stephen F. Austin State University Volunteers organization accept the Event of the Year award from Lynne Booker with The Blood Center East Texas. The award was given during the annual Celebration of Life Luncheon and Awards ceremony for their "Bleed Purple" Blood Drive held during Homecoming last October. The SFA Volunteers are one of The Blood Center's Commit for Life partners hosting four drives during each school year. Each year, students and faculty from SFA donate over 700 units of blood to the local blood supply helping patients in the eight hospitals that are served by The Blood Center East Texas.

Tom Stewart receives a Path for Success award on behalf of NIBCO, Inc. from The Blood Center East Texas for their partnership with the blood center through the Commit for Life program. NIBCO employees participated in four blood drives last year helping hundreds of patients in local hospitals. Donors receive Commit for Life points to be spent in an on-line store as a "thank you" for their time and efforts, but the real reward is knowing that each of their single donations go to help three patients right here close to home.

Myste Snow (left), Marketing Director for the Lufkin Daily News, was presented the Media of the Year award by Linda Warner of The Blood Center East Texas at the recent Celebration of Life Awards Luncheon. Snow accepted the award on behalf of The Lufkin Daily News for their outstanding support of the Commit for Life program at The Blood Center. The paper hosted blood drives, placed area blood drives in a daily Community Calendar column and helps in educating the public regarding patient needs in the eight hospitals that are serviced by The Blood Center.

Robby Lynn, Carla Vaughn and Michelle Briley(far right) from KJ103 accept their Path for Success award from Linda Warner, donor recruitment manager for The Blood Center East Texas. The Path for Success award is given to media in the area that help support The Blood Center by hosting blood drives and educating the public about patient needs in area hospitals. The Blood Center East Texas recognizes that reaching these needs each year could not be accomplished without the help of media partners like KJ103.

Linda Warner (left) with The Blood Center East Texas presents a Path for Success award to GAP Broadcasting employees, Tami Koonce and Dan Patrick at the recent Celebration of Life Luncheon. GAP Broadcasting was recognized for their support of The Blood Center by hosting blood drives and helping to educate the public regarding the need for blood in the East Texas area. KICKS, KFOX, KTBQ and KSFA are all to be commended for their generous donation of time and energy in partnering with The Blood Center East Texas and the Commit for Life program.

Paula Alex representing the Alabama Coushatta Tribe of Texas is shown receiving the Path for Success award from The Blood Center East Texas. The Celebration of Life Luncheon and Awards event was held recently at the Crown Colony Country Club in Lufkin and is an annual event to recognize Commit for Life groups that partner with The Blood Center to help maintain an adequate blood supply for the area. The Blood Center East Texas serves eight hospitals in East Texas including Memorial Medical Center of Livingston.

Kim Garner with the City of Nacogdoches is shown with the Path for Success Award presented by The Blood Center East Texas. The award was given at the recent Celebration of Life Awards Luncheon in recognition for the City of Nacogdoches' Commit for Life partnership with The Blood Center. Commit for Life partners hold a minimum of four blood drives a year and help to maintain an adequate supply of blood for hospitals that are served by The Blood Center, including Nacogdoches Medical Center and Nacogdoches Memorial Hospital. For more information about the Commit for Life program, call 560-3054.

Peggy Stapleton and David LaMonte of Memorial Medical Center in Livinigston accept the Hospital of the Year award from The Blood Center East Texas at a recent Celebration of Life Luncheon held at the Crown Colony Country Club in Lufkin. The hospital was recognized for their outstanding performance as a Commit for Life group collecting 356 units of blood that benefited over 1,000 patients in the East Texas area. Commit for Life groups host a minimum of quarterly blood drives to help The Blood Center East Texas maintain a safe and adequate blood supply for hospitals in the area. For more information on how your business or church can become a Commit for Life partner contact The Blood Center at 1-888-433-1733.

Murphy Ross of Temple Pineland was presented with the Chairperson of the Year award from The Blood Center East Texas recently at the Celebration of Life Awards Luncheon held at the Crown Colony Country Club in Lufkin. Lynne Booker with The Blood Center is shown with Ross as he accepts this prestigious award for his outstanding performance during Temple Pineland's Commit for Life blood drives. For more information regarding the Commit for Life program, call 1-888-433-1733.

Lufkin High School was awarded the School of the Year award at the recent Celebration of Life Awards Luncheon held at Crown Colony Country Club. This is an annual event that The Blood Center East Texas hosts to recognize all Commit for Life groups and to award special recognition awards to outstanding participants. Judy Sheffield (left) with The Blood Center East Texas is shown presenting the award to Lufkin High School blood drive chair, Marcia Waller. Lufkin High School collected 636 units of blood this school year that went to help over 1,900 patients in our East Texas area.

Lyn Logan, chair person from First United Methodist Church, accepts the Church Of The Year award from The Blood Center East Texas Recruitment Manager, Linda Warner, at a recent Celebration of Life Awards Luncheon held at Crown Colony Country Club in Lufkin. Logan accepted the award on behalf of her church and the three other churches that participate in quarterly blood drives. The other churches include the Center United Pentecostal Church, First Baptist Church and the Pineywoods Outreach Center. The Commit for Life program is open to all churches and businesses that are interested in helping maintain an adequate blood supply for patients in East Texas. Call 1-888-433-1733 for more information.

Valena Spradley (left) and Linda Gilgrease of Commercial Bank of Texas,N.A. accept the Small Business of the Year award from The Blood Center East Texas during the annual Celebration of Life Luncheon. Commercial Bank of Texas was recognized for their outstanding dedication to the Commit for Life program. The Blood Center East Texas began the Commit for Life program three years ago in an effort to ensure an adequate blood supply for the patients in the area. The bank was selected from a group of thirty-five CFL partners that host blood drives quarterly with The Blood Center East Texas. For more information call 560-3054.

Etech, Inc. of Nacogdoches was awarded Corporation of the Year by The Blood Center East Texas at the recent Celebration of Life Awards Luncheon. Nancy Bowdin (from left), Kyla Karleskint, Matt Rocco and Veronica Ellison accept the award on behalf of the company and the many employees that donate at blood drives held at Etech. The Celebration of Life is an annual event that recognizes the contribution of the Commit for Life partners of The Blood Center East Texas. Etech was selected for this special award from a group of thirty-five CFL groups.

Pat Smith (left), past Sabine County Chamber of Commerce president and Karen Stevens, manager of the Chamber, accept an award on behalf of the Chamber of Commerce from The Blood Center East Texas as the Community Group of the Year. The award was given at the recent Celebration of Life Luncheon held at the Crown Colony Country Club in Lufkin. This annual event recognizes all Commit for Life partners for their dedication to helping maintain a safe and adequate blood supply for East Texas. Sabine County Chamber of Commerce was selected for this special award from a group of thirty-five CFL partners for outstanding blood drives and helping to educate the citizens of Sabine County regarding patient needs in the area.

Michael Cunyus and Carrie Cahal of Angelina College accept the College of the Year award from The Blood Center East Texas during the annual Celebration of Life Luncheon. Angelina College was recognized for their outstanding dedication to the Commit for Life program. The Blood Center East Texas began the Commit for Life program three years ago in an effort to ensure an adequate blood supply for patients in the area. The Blood Center serves eight hospitals in a six county area, including Memorial Health System and Woodland Heights in Lufkin.