Happy Earth Day! This is a day designed to inspire awareness and appreciation for the Earth’s environment. The Earth Day 2022 theme is “Invest in our Planet” which focuses on encouraging individuals, businesses and world leaders to invest and switch to greener technologies and practices.
One example, is in my hometown of Sarasota, and a group that I am proud to be a member of their Board of Directors. In addition to saving lives here along Florida’s Gulf Coast, SunCoast Blood Centers (SCBC) is the only blood center to be certified Green, according to our Executive Director, Scott Bush. The new blood center headquarters and laboratory opened just over a year ago, was built using LEED certified paint products, LEED certified lighting.
In addition, SCBC is now planting a tree for every blood and platelet donation received. The campaign is called “Give Local, Save Global”. SCBC has partnered with Forestmatic, an organization that is planting 4 million trees over the next 3 years. The impact of this global initiative is to offset 500,000 tons of car bon dioxide (CO2).
SCBC also announced that they will be helping the blood needs efforts in Ukraine by donating monies on behalf of donors by donating $5 per donor and that is matched by Blood Centers of America (BCA) and Fresenius-Kabi. That matched effort of $10 per donor, will go towards buying blood bags and materials to assist in life-saving in the Ukraine.
SCBC is also a partner with local veterans’ groups that support the U.S. Southern Command’s Warrior Care Program. This program, based at Tampa’s MacDill Air Force Base serves those elite soldiers, airmen and seals who have been injured in action.
Inspired efforts of what our Clinical laboratories and Blood centers can do to help on Earth Day – and every day.
