Charles Drew Community Blood Donation Campaign
In 1999, the Red Cross partnered with the Washington University School of Medicine and St. Louis Children’s Hospital to form the Charles Drew Community Blood Donation Campaign under the direction of Dr. Michael DeBaun. This Campaign matches blood donations to children with sickle cell disease who have suffered a stroke. The primary treatment to prevent additional strokes in these children is regular blood transfusions.

The success of this Campaign has since spread to three other locations, helping numerous children: Children’s Mercy Hospital in Kansas City, Mo., under the direction of Dr. Gerald Woods; University of Missouri Hospital in Columbia, Mo.; and most recently at Cardinal Glennon Children’s Hospital in St. Louis, Mo., under the direction of Dr. Albert Chu and Dr. Michael Kelly.

What is Sickle Cell Disease?
Sickle cell disease is the most common genetic disease in African Americans, affecting about one out of every 400 newborns.  The illness is complicated, and medical management is challenging. Patients often experience anemia and episodes of severe pain.  But the most feared complication from the disease is stroke, which can occur in children as young as 18 months and continue through adulthood.  Matched blood donations are crucial in providing the best possible treatment and avoiding further complications.  The best match is most often found in someone with the same ethnic background, usually African American.

Does the African American Community Give Blood Regularly?
Many African Americans have become blood donors and give blood regularly.  However, there are far more African American patients needing blood than there are African Americans donating — less than one percent give blood.  More African Americans are needed to ensure that enough blood is available, especially for patients with sickle cell disease.

How Can You Help?
Organizations are needed on a regular basis to sponsor Charles Drew blood drives, which are an essential part of the Campaign. If you’re interested in sponsoring a drive or would like more information, please contact:

Alicia Smith
Charles Drew Campaign Coordinator
314-658-2127 or 314-614-7620 
smithar@usa.redcross.org.

You can also donate blood for the Charles Drew Campaign to see if you match a sickle cell patient in need. If you are a match, you will have the unique opportunity to help that patient manage the disease over time by donating blood two to four times per year. Please call 1-800-GIVE-LIFE (1-800-448-3543) to schedule a donation appointment.

 Back to top

Youth Initiatives
 The Red Cross is reaching out to area high schools, middle schools and elementary schools, encouraging their participation in Educate to Donate—an initiative to empower a new generation of blood donors.  With an emphasis on civic responsibility, this educational initiative teaches the importance of regular blood donation and provides students hands-on experience by allowing them to work a real blood drive.

Students will be assisted every step of the way, providing guidance and knowledge.  In turn, students take what they learn and help recruit friends, family and teachers to give blood.  If eligible, students may even donate blood themselves.  Thus, a new generation of donors is born.

The Red Cross realizes the impact students have on the future. For this reason, we have created special educational initiatives that will help save lives — What’s Inside of You Counts (for high schools) and Would You Be My Hero? (for elementary and middle schools).

The educational component is an integral part of these initiatives.  Students will learn about the Red Cross and its humanitarian services, the various components of blood and blood products and the need for blood donation.  Students also will gain the opportunity to build confidence and enhance their organizational skills while promoting civic responsibility.

What’s Inside of You Counts (high schools)
Many of us will require a blood transfusion at some point in our lives.  The good news is that inside each of us is a lifesaving gift—blood.  Each of us can make a difference.  How?  Through education.

• Educate students on civic responsibility
• Enhance the educational curriculum
• Encourage teamwork and an opportunity to build confidence, develop organizational and planning skills and provide student and school recognition

Would You Be My Hero? involves solid goals that serve to:

• Educate students on civic responsibility
• Enhance the educational curriculum, engage learning through tools such as games, handouts, experiments and other various teaching tools
• Encourage unity among children, parents and teachers, provide student and school recognition and deliver a quality, volunteer experience

Whether donating blood or sponsoring a blood drive, schools are vital in ensuring patients’ lives are not compromised.  For more information on the Educate to Donate initiative, please contact: