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About the Volunteer Program Gulf Coast Regional Blood Center understands the importance of a strong volunteer effort. That is why we have developed a Volunteer Program designed to enrich the lives of our volunteers, donors and the community. |
Katy Community Advocates
Gulf Coast Regional Blood Center extends a big hug to the 50 Commit for Life volunteers who attended our annual Holiday Hugs party! On Tuesday, Dec.12, these volunteers gathered at The Blood Center’s headquarters to attach holiday messages from gold-level Commit for Life donors to cuddly teddy bears. With all hands on deck, 1,000 bears were spruced up with colorful ribbons and cheerful messages, and were ready to be sent to their new homes with patients who spent the holidays in area hospitals. Volunteer Colette Ming gladly accompanied The Blood Center’s staff to Harris County Hospital District’s Ben Taub General Hospital, where she spread some holiday cheer by hand-delivering the bears to blood recipients. Thank you so much to everyone involved in making the holidays brighter for those who could not be at home with their families during this special time of year. |
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Our Greatest Heroes are Ordinary People Doing Extraordinary Things Every Day Gulf Coast Regional Blood Center Volunteer Services extends a huge “Thank You” to students at Dulles High School in Sugar Land. These students have made an incredible difference by volunteering their time to help fold donor letters and wrap Life Savers. Under the leadership of their teacher and Commit for Life Volunteer, Tresha King, the students have learned life skills along with how we can all work together to help save lives. The tasks they completed play an important role in helping Gulf Coast Regional Blood Center “Spread the Word” about the importance of blood donations to help save and sustain lives in the region. We are extremely grateful for these Heroes’ work and dedication. |
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Please click here to read her inspirational prayer. |
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Texas Medical Center Volunteer Service Advisory Committee Salute to Volunteers On May 8, 2006 the Texas Medical Center Volunteer Service Advisory Committee will honor volunteers at their annual recognition event. The event will celebrate how volunteers “Soar Above and Beyond” to help patients throughout the Medical Center as well as recognizing volunteers of the year for various organizations. All Gulf Coast Regional Blood Center volunteers are invited to attend the event held at the Shrine Center from 11-1. If you would like to attend please RSVP at volunteering@giveblood.org or by calling 713-791-6262 |
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Volunteers “Make a Difference” Volunteers are the cornerstone to the customer service donor experience and play a very important role in Commit for Life. To recognize and show gratitude for the difference all our volunteers make, as well as to honor recipients of special awards, Gulf Coast Regional Blood Center’s Volunteer Services will be holding a reception on Saturday April 29, 2006 at the La Concha Headquarters from 9:00 a.m. until 11:00 a.m. If you are a Gulf Coast Regional Blood Center volunteer and would like to attend, please RSVP at volunteering@giveblood.org or by calling 713-791-6262. ++ View Event Photos ++ **Album is approximately 2MB in size. |
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It’s a Family Affair
If you would like to join our Commit for Life family and help save lives by donating your time, contact Volunteer Services at volunteering@giveblood.org or by calling 713-791-6262 to find out about orientation and our volunteer opportunities. |
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National Volunteer Week April 23rd marks the beginning of National Volunteer Week and Gulf Coast Regional Blood Center is proud to participate in recognizing the life saving effort of our many volunteers. Please take an extra minute during this week to thank the many volunteers who help us save the patients in our region. On April 29th, Volunteer Services will host our annual recognition event here at the Bill T. Teague Neighborhood Donor Center. Details >> |
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It's a Great Day for our Volunteers Volunteers from Gulf Coast Regional Blood Center were the first live audience for filming of KHOU Channel 11's new show Great Day Houston. They enjoyed the filming which took place at the KHOU studios on Allen Parkway and featured recipes, diet information and exercise tips. Audience members participated in taste tests and calorie quizzes in the show dedicated to all things chocolate. It was a fun outing and unique experience for our volunteers.
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| The Romanos Inspire CenterPoint Chairpersons at Annual Luncheon
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Volunteer Services would like to recognize Elizabeth Morton for her contribution to saving lives over the past holiday season. Elizabeth volunteered her time to help prepare the bears for our Holiday Hugs promotion where she tirelessly attached hand-written notes to the bears to be delivered. Details >> |
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January 15, 2006 marks Renetta Bennet's 5-year anniversary with the Gulf Coast Regional Blood Center. Renetta has held many positions at The Blood Center and we are delighted to have her with us in Volunteer Services. She provides outstanding customer service to our volunteers and always has a positive attitude that brightens the day of folks in every department. We hope that you will join in congratulating her on this achievement. |
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This year, our incredible volunteers helped to prepare nearly 2000 bears for our Holiday Hugs program. A teddy bear training camp of sorts, the bears were checked for maximum cuddliness and huggability before notes from gold level donors and volunteers were attached and the bears were sent to patients. The volunteers worked diligently to get the loveable little fellas ready to be delivered to area hospitals, bringing smiles and joy to those spending the season away from home. |
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On December 6th; Michelle Perez, a very talented member of our Speakers' Bureau, took time out of her busy schedule to attend the Memorial Hermann Chairperson Kick-off. At the kick-off Michelle not only shared Gentry's story but the group also had the opportunity to meet Gentry. It is such an inspiration to volunteers and employees when we are reminded why we do what we do. Having Michelle and Gentry here in person is so special. We are so blessed that Jeanette Cooper, Gentry's grandma and biggest fan, is always willing to help out so Michelle can speak and Gentry can inspire and entertain! Keep your eye out for the new Commit for Life calendar and commercials...you'll recognize the star on the cover, he's also Mr. January and will be celebrating his third birthday!!! Thanks to all the volunteers and donors who made this possible. |
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During the Kick-off; Trish Callam and Bev Philo, representing Memorial Hermann and the commitment of the Partners in Caring team presented Mr. Teague with a beautiful symbol of what he has meant to their Blood Drive program, hospitals, and patients. He has made a difference in our community and our world. Thank you for recognizing his efforts; he continues to inspire all of us to give back...he is an example for all volunteers. |
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| Quilt Presentation
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Dear Commit For Life Volunteers, My son Johnny is seven years old, and was diagnosed with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (ALL) May 27, 2005. The news was devastating to our entire family, to say the least. You never expect to hear that your child has cancer. The first few hours and days of his diagnosis were terrifying, but my husband Mike and I knew what our goal was – to get Johnny well. We knew he would need quick, intensive treatment to survive -- Johnny’s blood and bone marrow was up to 97% blasts (cancer cells). The doctor’s told us before they could start any sort of chemo, or do further testing to find out what exact type of Leukemia Johnny had, he first must have transfusions. Lots and lots of transfusions. Johnny not only had cancer, but his platelets were 580, and his hemoglobin was 2.3. Everyone was surprised that he could even walk, much less go to school and function. He received almost 10 transfusions within the first month of being diagnosed. As I watched each drop of life fill his fragile veins, I couldn’t help but think of the Heroes that made this happen, and saved my little boy’s life. Everyone who works with the Gulf Coast Regional Blood Center is a Hero to me, my husband, and most of all, Johnny. He has been to many blood drives to thank the donors, and GCRBC employees and volunteers for everything they have done for us, and families like ours. As Johnny’s treatment intensifies over the next few months he will need many more transfusions. Thanks to dedicated people like you, there will be hope for kids like Johnny. I would like to thank each and every one of you for your hard
work and selfless acts of kindness. You are incredible people
who make miracles happen! |
National Day of Prayer Breakfast
Tresha King has been a dedicated volunteer with Gulf Coast Regional Blood Center participating as a member of the “Thank You Crew”, speakers bureau, and the Sugar Land Community Council. She has also helped to Commit for Life by spreading the word to her family. Her niece began donating as soon as she turned 17 and became a Gold Level donor in 2006. Now, Tresha, her sister and two nieces are all Commit for Life volunteers and are working together to help save lives. They are continuing the commitment as a family through volunteerism. 
The
Sugar Land Community Council was recognized at Gulf Coast Regional
Blood Center's annual Celebration of Life Luncheon and Awards
Ceremony for their outstanding contributions to the Commit for
Life program. 
Julie
Romano is a member of our Speaker's Bureau who has been incredibly
generous with the story of her son Johnny and his journey over
the past year with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia. On
January 17, 2006 she, once again, shared her story and provided
inspiration to those working together to save lives. 
Volunteer
Spotlight:
A
Momentous Achievement
Holiday
Hugs Helpers
Speakers
make a difference...
Memorial
Hermann Chairperson Kick-off
On
November 30th, members of the Sugar Land Community Council presented
Mr. Teague with a quilt representing their recognition of his
commitment and dedication to the Gulf Coast Region through his
service as our CEO and President. Mr. Teague is retiring after
30+ years with Gulf Coast and the presentation of the quilt is
just one symbol of the impact he has had on our community including
our volunteers and the patients we serve. The quilt was quilted
in Louisiana and put together in Sugar Land by Barbara Kerr. It
is made up of 24 different blood center t-shirts.The council members,
led by chair Tresha King, expressed their heartfelt thanks to
Mr. Teague and shared an afternoon of friendship and reminiscing.
Council members include: Tresha King (Chair), Lydia Bourg (Co-chair)
Jimmie Daurity, Sara Nguyen, Lizzie Kovach, Andrew Kovach, Diane
Starr, Wayne Kehr, Carol Hayes, Dale Kinsman, Ed Roebuck, Scott
Haley, Carol Shields, Sarah Funderburk, Mike Baker, Michael Burns
(Sugar Land Donor Center Manager) and Leon Brooks (Donor Collections).
Thanks
to you...