Youngster Inspires Record Collection for Red Cross

| June 1, 2012 | 0 Comments
Record Blood Drive

FOURTH GRADER Gus Deppe, with principal Sr. Maureen O'Connor, presented an award to St. Brendan School from the American Red Cross

 

St. Brendan School and Church were recently presented awards from the American Red Cross for a blood drive last fall named in honor of student Gus Deppe. At the time, the fourth grader was undergoing chemotherapy and receiving platelet transfusions. Thankfully, his disease is now in remission, report his parents, Paul Deppe and Cecilia Uribe. “But the need for donations continues,” added Cecilia.

The event was spearheaded by American Red Cross Ambassador Jackie Kruse. “I started organizing blood drives for the Red Cross after recognizing a need in the neighborhood for convenient drives at regular intervals,” said Kruse, Windsor Square. A registered nurse, Kruse said she enjoys educating people on how easy it is to donate and how much their effort can help save lives.

Along with Gus, Kruse presented the awards to principal Sr. Maureen O’Connor at an assembly in April at St. Brendan’s. The school received the Clara Barton Award for the greatest number of units collected for an elementary school during 2011, as well as the Give Award for the greatest percentage increase from the previous year.

“In 2010 we collected 31 pints, and in October, 2011 we increased collection by 113 percent and collected 35 more pints for a total of 66,” said Kruse. “Each unit of blood has the potential to save up to three lives, so we may have helped 198 people!” she added.

The awards were the most prestigious for the L.A. area, said Kruse. “We owe a big thanks to Gus Deppe and his family” including his grandparents Oscar and Maria Elena Uribe of Wilshire Park.

Kruse is busy getting the word out about the next blood drive, which is on Tues., May 8 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the St. Brendan Parish Center at the campus at 238 S. Manhattan Place.

To schedule an appointment, go to www.redcrossblood.org and enter sponsor code StBrendanLA or call Kruse at 323-788-7199.

Tags: , ,

Category: People

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *