Community Partnerships
Bloodworks Northwest and the Family First Community Center Foundation have partnered to support the community with an innovative student scholarship program. The scholarship program aims to provide students with an opportunity to cultivate leadership skills and bolster the community blood supply, all while earning money for college.
Championed by Doug Baldwin, this partnership looks to enhance the health of local communities, with a focus on youth education and empowerment. Additionally, this program is supported by Boon Bonna Coffee and Arts Unlimited of Renton.
How Does It work?
Students are assigned a Two-Week Virtual Drive period where they recruit blood donors to give at either a Bloodworks Pop-Up Location or Donor Center. They are given a custom code, that friends and family will bring to their donation.
For every donor the student recruits, Bloodworks Northwest, Doug Baldwin, the Family First Community Center Foundation, Boon Boona Coffee, and Arts Unlimited of Renton will each contribute to the student scholarship.
Students are paired with a coach to guide them step-by-step through creating a plan for outreach and recruitment.
Meet The Students
Name: Elsa
Virtual Drive dates and Code: May 2-16, 778B
Future College or College Goal:
I haven’t received all of my college decisions yet, but a couple of my goals are Duke University and the
University of Michigan and I’ve already been accepted to Michigan!
Hometown:
Mercer Island, Washington
What you want to do or achieve or study in college:
My goals are to study public health and possibly political science, and hopefully go to medical school one
day! I also hope to participate in different research projects in college as they become available to me.
Why do you feel donating blood is important to the community:
I think that donating blood is one of the easiest and most impactful ways to immediately help someone
in need. Hospitals always need blood donations, especially during the pandemic that we’ve been living
through for over a year now. If you are healthy and eligible to donate blood, there is no reason not to do
it, as it could change someone’s life.
Describe your game plan for recruiting blood donors:
My plan is to recruit eligible teenagers at my high school, as well as Mercer Island community members,
to donate blood. I think it would be a good way to encourage community engagement and it would be
an easy way for people to give back. I’m also very involved in different groups on the island, both within
the high school and in the general community, so I would be able to reach many different demographics
and promote the drive to hundreds of people at once.
Support Elsa and donate between May 2-16. Use her code 778B when you show up for your appointment.
Name: Nebiu
Virtual Drive dates and code: May 16-30, 779B
Hometown: Seattle, Washington
Future College or College Goal: Holy Names University
What you want to do or achieve or study in college:
College Goal would be to to graduate with a sports management degree.
Why do you feel donating blood is important to the community: I think it is very important to give
back to where you are from. Donating blood is helping others in need
Describe your game plan for recruiting blood donors: My game plan with donating blood is to contact as many people in the community and give them information about how important it is to give blood. I am very connected in the Ethiopian community and think will do great finding people.
Support Nebiu and donate between May 16-30. Use her code 779B when you show up for your appointment.
