Jackie Johnson Receives 2009 AABB Individual Award of Merit

Winston-Salem, NC- Jackie Johnson of Clemmons, NC, has been awarded the 2009 American Association of Blood Banks (AABB) Individual Award of Merit. The prestigious national award recognizes an individual who, on a local level, promotes and supports voluntary blood donations. The award, for non-blood bank employees, recognized Johnson’s efforts to enhance the field of blood banking and transfusion medicine. She was nominated by the Carolinas Blood Services Region of the American Red Cross.

Johnson, 21, was diagnosed with leukemia a few months after she began her freshman year at Appalachian State University (ASU) in Boone, NC. The successful treatment of her leukemia required many transfusions of blood and platelets. Having been a frequent blood donor several times prior to her diagnosis and treatment, Johnson, now a recipient, decided to give back to her community by hosting her own blood drives and educating new potential donors on the importance of becoming donors.

Jackie Johnson (center) poses with her parents, Robin (left) and Brent,
shortly after she received the 2009 AABB Individual Award of Merit
during a special presentation at the Dixie Classic Fair in Winston-Salem.

Since 2006, Johnson has hosted a blood drive at her church, Calvary Baptist, which historically produced 40-50 units before Johnson and her parents, Robin and Brent, became involved. With Johnson’s drive and effort, her church donation program has grown dramatically. From the 40-50 average just three short years ago, the Jackie Johnson-led drives have since grown from 170, 372 and 556 over the last three drives. Johnson, with the strong support of her family, remains committed to this annual drive with plans to continue its growth.

Johnson has become increasingly involved with the American Red Cross as both a volunteer and intern at ASU. Her focus is educating donors and increasing the number of units of blood collected on campus. In 2008, Johnson
worked actively on the ASU blood drive and played a critical role in coordinating more than 100 volunteers. ASU
collected 1,060 units on a goal of 1,000, breaking the American Red Cross Carolinas Blood Services Region’s record for the largest one-day blood drive. The blood collected at the ASU drive composed more than 66% of the Carolinas Region’s collections that day. In 2009, the blood drive collected 1,003 units and remains the largest one-day drive in the region.

As an advocate for encouraging others to donate blood, Johnson enthusiastically addresses groups and media throughout the community, sharing her personal story, urging individuals to become active blood and platelet donors and challenging groups to host blood drives.

The Carolinas Blood Services Region of the American Red Cross provides lifesaving blood to more than 103 hospitals and must have 1,600 people give blood and platelets to meet patient needs.

Blood can be safely donated every 56 days. Most healthy people age 17 and older, or 16 with parental consent, who weigh at least 110 pounds, are eligible to donate blood. Donors who are 18 and younger must also meet height and weight requirements.

For more information or to schedule locate a nearby blood drive, call, please call 1-800-GIVE-LIFE (448-3543) or visit RedCrossBlood.org.

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