February is designated as Black History Month: a time to celebrate the many contributions African Americans have made to this country and a time to reflect on the continued struggle for racial justice.

 Charles Richard Drew (June 3, 1904 – April 1, 1950) was an American surgeon and medical researcher. Drew was a pioneer in blood transfusion and the first African American to earn a medical doctorate from Columbia University. Drew developed improved techniques for blood storage and applied his expert knowledge to developing large-scale blood banks early in World War II. As a result, 35 blood bank centers were in operation during the war.

 His research was instrumental in providing much-needed plasma to soldiers, which allowed medics to save thousands of lives that would have been lost in earlier wars when blood therapy was unknown. By war’s end, millions of donations had been received by the Red Cross.

 As the most prominent African American in the field, Drew protested against the practice of racial segregation in the donation of blood, as it lacked scientific foundation. He is known as “the father of the blood bank” for his innovative mobile blood donation concept. 

 Dr. Drew was only 45 years old while driving to a scientific conference when he was tragically killed in an automobile accident. His pioneering medical work has endured. Many lives have been saved because of his genius at turning basic biological research into practical production methods. It is a certainty that mankind owes a debt of gratitude to Dr. Charles Richard Drew.

 Public Health’s Dr. Charles R. Drew Health Center, located at 1323 West Third Street in Dayton, is named after this great pioneer in medical science.

DAYTON, Ohio – Donors are melting hearts – and hopefully not melting the chocolates – at the Dayton CBC “Give The Love” Blood Drive.

It’s St. Valentine’s weekend, and that is usually enough reason to share good feelings towards others, especially by donating the Gift of Life.  This year the holiday comes with the complications of COVID, plus harsh winter weather that has cancelled high school blood drives and threatens to cause more problems.

Everyone who registers to donate Friday and Saturday at the Dayton CBC gets a six-piece box of assorted Esther Price chocolates, plus the “Team Donor” t-shirt and the “Fight. Heal. Give.” face mask.

“Team Donor” focuses on how the traditional challenges of January Blood Donor Awareness Month are continuing into the “Donor Year” of 2021.  CBC challenges everyone able to make three donations in 2021.

The “FIGHT. HEAL. GIVE.” campaign asks those who have recovered from COVID-19 to consider donating COVID-19 Convalescent Plasma for coronavirus patients who can benefit from this effective treatment.

Dayton donor Marilyn Bumpus came to the “Give The Love” blood drive with her sister, a convalescent plasma donor. “I love chocolates!” she said. “I can take some to share with my clients at Grace Works.”

“I like chocolates and my kids like them,” said Yellow Springs donor Jyoti Miller. “They’re getting a little bonus!”

Does Tipp City donor Amber Ruby like chocolates? “Yea!” she said. “Has anybody told you no yet?”

Actually, yes. Monroe Fire Department firefighter Jacob Zeckser skips chocolate. For Jacob “Give the Love” was a chance to make his first lifetime donation after missing the opportunity when he worked for the Beavercreek Fire Department during the “Battle of the Badges” Blood Drive.

Sidney donor Tom Faulkner made his milestone 25^th lifetime donation. He also celebrated his “Triple Crown” year as a type O-negative donor for making at least three donations in 2020.

Megan Prion is a senior at Bellbrook High School who likes chocolate. But it would be far sweeter if the pandemic situation abates in time for an in-person graduation ceremony in the spring.

“We were going back and forth with online and in-person classes, and we’re full in-person now,” she said. “They’re talking about an outdoor graduation, but we don’t know.”

When asked if he likes chocolate, Centerville donor Chris Wagner said, “Most people do!” But togetherness is even better. His weekend St. Valentine’s celebrations will include, “spending time with my wife.”

A family St. Valentine’s celebration began Friday at the blood drive for Springfield’s Millie Jefferson and her daughter Tiffanie Jones. “This is the second time we’ve donated together,” said Mille. “We’re making a lunch date out of it. Next time we’ll make it three generations!”

An example about what it means to “Give The Love” came from State Sen. Steve Huffman, the ER physician from Tipp City who sponsored legislation for Ohio’s January Blood Donor Awareness Month. 

“My twins celebrated their 23^rd birthdays two days ago,” said Steve after making his 74^th lifetime donation. Will and Allison were preemies born at 28 weeks. “I donated directly for Will when he was in neonatal intensive care,” recalled Steve.

This year was a rare birthday spent apart. Both are in medical school with Will at the University of Pennsylvania and Allison at Ohio State.

DAYTON, Ohio – West Carrollton High School Health and PE teacher Gerry Glowik has retired from 28 years of coaching football, wrestling and girls track, but is still scrambling around the mat as wrestling official. He learned early from his mom to never let slip away the chance to help others by donating blood. On Feb. 8 he pinned his 100^th lifetime donation with Community Blood Center.

Gerry has totaled many donations at other blood centers, but he hasn’t kept score. “I started when I was 16. I’ve donated since high school, and in different places,” he said. “We lived in Cleveland and my mom was an ER nurse. She said the easiest thing you can do is donate blood.”

Gerry continued donating at Miami University, and seldom needed reminders. “My mom volunteered with Red Cross,” he said, “and every time I went home, I donated.”

He worked in the fitness industry in North Carolina and began donating with CBC when he returned to Ohio to coach at Carlisle and then West Carrollton. Gerry and his wife Nancy have a daughter at Ohio State. He was recently honored for 25 years of wrestling officiating with the Ohio High School Athletic Association and is currently vice president of the Southwest Ohio Wrestling Officials Association.

“I’m a big advocate of blood donation and organ donation,” said Gerry. He is committed to making five whole blood donations per year as a volunteer participant in CBC’s Reagent Red Cell Program. He learned his blood has special antigen typing needed to make reagents, which are used to test blood compatibility and safety.

“The last few years, I thought maybe I can get to 100,” he said. He kept his donation schedule throughout the pandemic, just as he has adapted to safety procedures in high school wrestling this season, and all the challenges of being an educator.

“We’ve been hybrid, every other day,” he said about in-person classes and remote learning schedule at West Carrollton High.  “It’s not ideal, but we’re giving kids choices.”