The Community Blood Center of the Carolinas (CBCC) recently honored its top area blood drive hosts and donors from 2014 in the second of two appreciation banquets. Nearly 100 people attended the Hickory event that was emceed by Danny Hearn of the Hickory Chamber and took place at the Crowne Plaza Hickory. Other special guests included the Walker-Jennings family who were directly impacted by the need for blood when Carter Jennings needed multiple transfusions as a baby.

The Community Blood Center of the Carolinas acknowledged the commitment of blood drive hosts that held exceptional blood drives in 2014. Categories included: the highest collecting blood drives in 2014; organizations that have collected the most units over several years; and first-year blood drive hosts who impacted the most lives through blood donation. Individual donors were also recognized for their exemplary service to the community.

Whole Blood Donors who gave blood seven times in one year:

Glenn Johnson – Taylorsville; and Terry Rennaker – North Wilkesboro.

These two men touched up to 21 lives each through blood donation.

Rennaker was also honored for being the top CBCC whole blood donor of all time, giving blood 68 times from 2003 to the end of 2014.

Sickle Cell Heroes:

Maurice McBryant – Gastonia; Daquan Huitt – Catawba; and Eugene Reynolds – Gastonia.

These donors gave five or six times each in direct support of local sickle cell patients.

Double Donor Heroes:

Ken Tolin – Valdese; and Lloyd Mash – Hickory.

These donors gave seven units of blood each through a combination of whole blood and double red cell donation.

Most Impactful Platelet Donors from Gastonia Donation Center:

Lyle Branagan – Gastonia; Ray Hardee – Gastonia; Lou Leclair – Gastonia; Bernadine Carpenter – Gastonia; Calvin Hass – Bessemer City; and Robert Stacy – Clover.

Most Impactful Platelet Donors from Hickory Donation Center:

Patrick Jean – Conover; Randall Collins – Granite Falls; and Brian Patton – Hickory.

These donors gave the highest number of platelet units or have the highest frequency of donation in 2014, spending a minimum of 40 hours each giving back through CBCC.

“It is a tremendous honor to thank and recognize all of these businesses, organizations and donors for working together in the spirit of community to support local patients,” said Martin Grable, president and CEO of the Community Blood Center of the Carolinas. “Keeping blood donations local provides the blood our family, friends and neighbors need when battling cancer, sickle cell and other life-threatening illnesses. This appreciation banquet was our way of saying thank you to all those dedicated to supporting local patients and making a difference in our community.”

About Community Blood Center of the Carolinas

The Community Blood Center of the Carolinas (CBCC) is a non-profit community-based blood center and the primary blood supplier to 27 regional hospitals, serving 19 North Carolina and three South Carolina counties. CBCC focuses exclusively on gathering red blood cells, platelets and plasma from volunteer donors to save local lives here in the Carolinas. Every drop stays here, saving local lives. CBCC is a member of America’s Blood Centers, North America’s largest network of community-based, independent blood centers providing more than 50% of the nation’s blood supply.

For more information on hosting a blood drive or donating blood in your area, visit www.cbcc.us or call 828-431-3344.

Follow the Community Blood Center of the Carolinas on Facebook http://www.facebook.com/BloodCenter and on Twitter at www.twitter.com/CBCCarolinas.