First-Ever Blood Drive Ties to American Idol(R) and is Expected to Bring in Thousands of Donors, Targets Young People

First-Ever Blood Drive Ties to American Idol(R) and is Expected to Bring in Thousands of Donors, Targets Young People

Blood Drive Timing is Ideal as the Nation Gears Up for the American Idol(R) 2005 Season Finale May 25th

TOPEKA, Kan., May 10 /PRNewswire/ -- American Idol(R) fans throughout the Kansas area have a chance to be a real Idol simply by donating blood and saving a life during the first-ever American Idol(R) Regional Blood Drive, May 13-15, conducted by the Community Blood Center of Topeka.

"People love American Idol(R) and we thought it would be powerful to tie- in the American Idol(R) brand with our local blood drive to bring more people to the locations and especially encourage young people to donate blood," said Kathy Belanger, recruitment representative of the Topeka Community Blood Center. "We expect participation to be in the 1,500-2,000 range, compared to normal blood drives, which average 50-100 donors."

Anyone who registers to donate at any of the blood drive locations listed below will receive an American Idol(R) T-Shirt and a goodie bag chock full of American Idol-branded premium items to help them gear up for the American Idol(R) season Finale May 25th. Donors will also get to vote for their favorite American Idol(R) and have a chance to win additional fantastic prizes including fashion-forward accessories from Payless ShoeSource and products from Coca-Cola -- both corporate sponsors of the first-ever event.

Belanger noted that the Community Blood Center was able to make this first-ever arrangement with American Idol(R) happen through the local Topeka Fox 43 affiliate, which helped secure the deal.

In addition to helping save lives, blood donors who participate in the blood drive will receive the benefit of a mini-physical that includes a brief review of their medical history, cholesterol screening, hemoglobin levels, and checks for blood pressure, pulse, and temperature. The donation process typically takes less than one hour.

Every four minutes someone in the area needs a blood transfusion, and just one unit of blood can save up to two lives. It may be the life of a sick child, a victim of an automobile accident, or a cancer patient. The need is real and blood drives are important ways for people to help.

Community Blood Center is the local non-profit supplier of blood services for 75 hospitals throughout Kansas City, Topeka, Lawrence, St. Joseph, and Jefferson City. The Blood Center is a member of America's Blood Centers, a national network of independent blood centers that provides over half of the nation's blood supply; the American Association of Blood Banks; and the Blood Centers of America. For more information see http://www.bloodislife.org/ .

Editor's Note: The schedule for the three-day blood drive is below.

Friday, May 13 Saturday, May 14 Sunday, May 15
Community Blood Center Manhattan Town Center Mall West Ridge Mall
800 Lane Manhattan, KS Topeka, KS
Topeka, KS 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
7:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m.

Source: Topeka Community Blood Center

CONTACT: Steve Janasz, Manager of Media Relations of Topeka Community
Blood Center, +1-816-968-4099, +1-816-260-5316

Web site: http://www.bloodislife.org/

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