A Gift of Love, Through Blood Donation
This place, filled with people wearing joyful smiles,
is the site of WeLoveU’s Blood Drive.
May 8 to August 10, the International WeLoveU Foundation
(hereinafter referred to as WeLoveU) carried out its 446th to 450th
Worldwide Blood Drives in cooperation with blood centers and national
hospitals across the United States, India, Australia, Mongolia, and Peru.
A total of 675 people participated in the campaign,
with 524 successfully donating blood,
creating meaningful moments as they shared the precious gift of life.
It is often said that one blood donation can save up to three lives.
Both WeLoveU members and other attendees expressed their joy
at being able to give love to their neighbors,
hoping that even more people would join future efforts.
In recognition of WeLoveU’s dedication, the Versiti Blood Center in Illinois,
U.S., and the Jawaharlal Institute of Postgraduate Medical Education &
Research(JIPMER) Hospital in Puducherry, India, presented WeLoveU with
certificates and plaques of appreciation. They shared the following remarks:
“It takes someone’s help to save another person’s life. The campaign
was especially meaningful as it was held during a time of declining
blood donations. We are truly honored to participate in this life-saving effort
with WeLoveU. The organization is genuinely inspiring.”
Chris Miskel, President & CEO, Versiti Blood Center
“WeLoveU volunteers are energetic, well-organized, kind,
and proactive in all they do. I’m deeply impressed
by the wide range of activities the organization undertakes.”
Galina Carson, Account Executive-Amazon
WeLoveU will continue to share warm-hearted love with neighbors
through ongoing blood.
Worldwide Blood Drive 2021
Held Blood Drives in 46 Regions of 14 Countries
in Age of Pandemic to Alleviate the Shortage of Blood Supply
The global economy suffered a considerable blow from COVID-19 which is expanding its scope by continuing to mutate. Many countries are choosing to transition to the “With Corona” era, which is to coexist with the virus. They acknowledged the impossibility of ending the coronavirus and changed the direction of medical care to focus on the treatment of critically ill patients. However, in order to deal with the With Corona era without any problems, the blood donation rate, which has dropped rapidly amid fear of the spread of the contagious disease, must be increased.
The Intl. WeLoveU Foundation planned the Worldwide Blood Drive 2021 to help alleviate the blood supply shortage in many countries, because the pain of patients in need of blood transfusion aggravated as the blood supply dropped significantly amid the whirlwinds of the COVID-19 pandemic. From September 2 to 26, the WeLoveU carried out blood drives in 46 regions of 14 countries (Australia, United States, Philippines, Mongolia, India, Peru, Ecuador, El Salvador, Uruguay, Brazil, Malawi, Kenya, Benin, and Rep. of South Africa). About 3,800 WeLoveU members and citizens participated in the blood drives, of which 2,113 people with healthy blood succeed to donate blood to share life with neighbors.
The blood drive started with the WeLoveU chapter in Cairns, Australia, on September 2. On the 5th, it was held in 10 locations in the Rep. of South Africa, including Cape Town; and in 3 locations the Philippines, including Quezon City, on the 26th. The 393rd through 441st blood drives were carried out in a row at hospitals, Red Crosses, blood banks, blood donation centers, and cultural and sports centers in various locations.
Blood Donation With More Brilliant Value in the Age of Pandemic
The WeLoveU held 20 blood drives in less than a month in Peru, which led to cheers of support from hospital medical staff and the heads of local governments. Head of “Daniel Alcides Carrión” Clinical-Surgical Regional Hospital in El Tambo, Huancayo, Junín, sent cheers of support for the WeLoveU’s blood drive campaign, saying, “The WeLoveU is the only organization that conducts blood drives every year. Its constant effort will save many lives.” The medical staff also scrambled to say that they were moved by the WeLoveU’s blood drive campaign that is carried out every year. The mayor of the Bellavista District participated in the WeLoveU’s blood drive held at Daniel Alcides Carrión National Hospital in Bellavista, Callao, and expressed his gratitude by presenting a certificate of appreciation and a plaque of appreciation to the WeLoveU for its extensive blood drive. On September 8, the WeLoveU held a blood drive at a children’s park in cooperation with Lambayeque Regional Hospital in Chiclayo. It was also meaningful that three passersby showed interest in the blood drive and joined in donating blood too.
All the countries where the blood drive has been conducted lavished with compliments on the WeLoveU’s campaign. At the Worldwide Blood Drive held at Ecuadorian Red Cross Specialized Medical Center in Quito, Ecuador, on September 13, the representatives of the National Blood Centre and the Specialized Medical Centers of the Ecuadorian Red Cross recognized the WeLoveU’s contribution to donating blood voluntarily, and presented certificates of appreciation to Honorary Chairwoman Zahng Gil-jah and the WeLoveU Foundation. “Blood donation is very important to Ecuador and to the Red Cross. Thanks to the WeLoveU’s blood donation, we will be able to save about three to four hundred lives,” said Aníbal Gaviria, the Manager of the National Blood Centre.
A medical staff member at National Women’s Hospital in San Salvador, El Salvador, also expressed gratitude to the WeLoveU for practicing love for neighbors through blood donation, and explained how worthy it is to donate blood in times like these: “The number of blood donors in hospitals has significantly decreased due to the pandemic, but the void was filled with the love of WeLoveU. Blood is in high demand for newborn babies, so the families with newborn babies would probably appreciate it the most.”
In India and the United States, many WeLoveU members participated in the blood drive while adhering to preventive measures endorsed by the government. In particular at Kondapur Government Hospital in Ranga Reddy, Telangana, India, 300 members attended and left a big record of 200 blood donations. In the United States, about 400 members participated in the blood drive held at Georgia World Congress Center in Atlanta, Georgia, on September 26, and 228 people successfully donated blood. On the 22nd, a few days before the blood drive in Atlanta, the WeLoveU hosted a webinar recognizing Sickle Cell Awareness Month to publicize the importance of blood donation. Georgia has one of the highest rates of sickle cell disease. On the day of blood drive, some famous basketball players in the NBA Hall of Fame participated to encourage blood donation, and the blood drive was broadcast live on YouTube.
The media around the world reported 65 times about the WeLoveU’s blood drive, and paid attention to its progress in sharing love through blood donation in such difficult times.
The WeLoveU members who participated in the blood drive always convey the same message of hope: “We hope many people will participate in the blood donation that shares both love and life and have a happy experience.” In addition, the members altogether urged the participation of citizens in blood donation, saying that there was nothing more brilliant and valuable than blood donation in this age of pandemic.
Blood Drives in the Dominican Republic, Australia, and Zimbabwe
Blood Drives in the Dominican Republic, Australia, and Zimbabwe with concern for the lives of neighbors
The blood drives of the Intl. WeLoveU Foundation halted for a while due to the concern about the spread of coronavirus. With the start of 2021, however, blood drives were conducted again in the U.S. partly thanks to increased vaccination rates, but mainly because the number of patients who failed to receive blood transfusions on time, increased due to insufficient supply of blood in each country in the past one year. The Intl. WeLoveU Foundation re-started blood drives in order to help with blood supply shortage which is arising as a social problem. For the same reason, blood drives were urgently carried out in the Dominican Republic, Australia, and Zimbabwe as well.
On February 21, the Intl. WeLoveU Foundation Chapter in the Dominican Republic held a blood drive at Dr. Heriberto Pieter Oncological Institute, a cancer hospital in Oeste, Santo Domingo. Their aim was to help with supplying blood to blood banks in each region and deliver hope to neighbors whose lives were in jeopardy.
When the appointed time came, 115 WeLoveU members with yellowish green T-shirts and face masks on from Santo Domingo, Santiago, Moca, and La Vega gathered at the hospital. Some of them arrived at the venue early in the morning, decorated the event hall with balloons and blood donation characters, and informed people who visited the hospital about the importance of donating blood. Adhering to COVID-19 guidelines from the government, the members also strictly maintained social distancing. That day, 110 members hoped to donate blood, but only 70 could do because that was the maximum amount the hospital could keep.
Director of Research Institute in Oncology Rafael Jimenez said, “I was pretty surprised to see the WeLoveU members coming to the hospital to donate blood. Actually, our hospital requires much more blood than other hospitals, and so we rely on help from blood banks. Today, the WeLoveU’s support was indeed of great help to our hospital.” He greatly complimented the young adult members from the WeLoveU on voluntarily participating in non-remunerated blood donation, saying, “They are setting a very good example for our society.” After the blood donation, he delivered a certificate of appreciation to the WeLoveU.
On March 7, the WeLoveU conducted a blood drive at Australian Red Cross Brisbane Donor Centre in Queensland. Twenty-three WeLoveU members from Brisbane and Gold Coast participated in the event, and 16 of them successfully donated blood. That day, the Head of Australian Red Cross delivered a certificate of appreciation to Honorary Chairwoman Zahng Gil-jah and the WeLoveU, saying, “They have brought about significant changes in saving lives through the blood donation.”
The last round of blood donation in the first half of the year was conducted in Zimbabwe. On June 27, the Zimbabwean members of the Intl. WeLoveU Foundation stood in a long line at the entrance of Zimbabwe Red Cross Society in Harare in order to attend the blood drive. After having their body temperatures checked, they wished a successful blood drive, shouting, “Wah, we love you!” and making heart shapes with their fingers while maintaining social distancing.
When the nurses began collecting blood, the supporting team members encouraged the blood donors with paper panels where “Animo” was written. The blood donors and the supporters were like-minded in saving lives. That day, 33 members from the WeLoveU Chapter in Harare, Zimbabwe, successfully donated blood.
It is not easy to give a helping hand to neighbors especially in this age when everyone is going through hard times. However, that is when we need to share love with one another the most. The WeLoveU members eagerly hope their little efforts will miraculously save lives of many patients.
Saving Lives Through Blood Drives in the U.S.
Saving lives through blood drive is the most important and urgent thing to do right now!
Due to COVID-19, social and economic activities have become sluggish, and the physical distance between people has grown. Ironically, the measures that are taken to prevent the spread of pandemics and save lives are killing other lives; because the number of blood donors has sharply dropped. Since the U.S. declared the pandemic, more than 50,000 blood drives got cancelled. Furthermore, a number of abnormal climate changes such as cold waves and heavy snowfall occurred, shutting down numerous blood centers. The media reports on the issue of blood supply on a daily basis, but there are not many people who donate blood as they fear of the infectious disease. On the contrary, the number of people who need blood transfusions has increased.
American members of the Intl. WeLoveU Foundation (hereinafter referred to as the “WeLoveU”) planned a large-scale blood drive and immediately proceeded with it as the blood shortage worsened. In January, members donated blood from six states, including Indiana and California, at four blood centers; in February, from 12 states, including Connecticut, New York, and Massachusetts, at 14 blood centers; and in April, from Georgia, Texas, and Oklahoma at one blood center. In a total of 19 blood drives, 2,991 members applied for donating blood; among them, 2,390 members successfully donated blood. Even in the difficult situation of a pandemic, saving lives was the most important and urgent task. So they willinlgy participated in blood donation and contributed to saving thousands of lives.
Express your love for mankind through blood donation
On the 10th day of the first month of the New Year, 39 members of Indianapolis, Indiana, participated in blood donation at the Delaware Township Community Center, announcing the beginning of the U.S. Blood Drive in 2021. On January 17, members from 35 regions in California, and the members from Salt Lake City, Utah, and Las Vegas, Nevada, launched the 370th Worldwide Blood Drive. More than 800 WeLoveU members gathered at the plaza in front of the LAFC soccer field in Los Angeles; and lawmakers, mayors, medical workers, actors, and athletes too participated to support blood donation.
As there were many people, they paid more attention to become a safe event. The blood donors had been asked to arrive at the event venue on their registered times, and all the participants had been guided to test themselves for COVID-19 in advance. On the day, they not only wore a face mask, but also measured their body temperature and sanitized their hands, and the event staff put on a face shield and tried hard not to narrow the distance between people. Above all, they all followed the guidelines of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention [CDC].
Reggie Jones-Sawyer, a member of the California State Assembly, who attended the blood drive, appreciated Honorary Chairwoman Zahng Gil-jah’s efforts, saying, “She is really doing the right thing when everyone is going through hard times due to the pandemic. From her love for humanity, she helps out people without expecting anything in return, so that people can improve their lives.” He felt relieved at the fact that the critical patients could undergo surgery without delay, saying, “There were only half a day’s blood left in the blood storage. Were this blood drive not held, we would have to instruct hospitals to delay surgeries.”
On the same day, the WeLoveU members in Columbus, Ohio, too held a blood drive at Graduate Columbus Hotel, and 29 members successfully donated blood. On the 31st, 50 members in Middletown, Connecticut, held a blood drive at East Hardford YMCA together with the American Red Cross.
The blood drives that were held in 14 regions in February were conducted while the members strictly adhered to COVID-19 prevention guidelines like those held in January. On February 7, members in the states of Connecticut, Rhode Island, New York, Washington, and Pennsylvania donated blood simultaneously at four blood donation centers; and members from ten states, including Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and Wyoming, held blood drives at two blood donation centers on the 14th, at one blood donation center on the 15th, at three blood donation centers on the 21st, and at five blood donation centers on the 28th. The blood drive at Kentucky Blood Center on the 15th was not easy due to snow storms, but it was not canceled because the members who were able to move looked for blood donation centers to donate blood.
Texas; among 1,300 members who expressed their will to donate blood, 1,043 members successfully donated blood. In fact, the number of people who could donate blood at the stadium was limited to 960 people. However, members in Dallas visited the local blood donation center and showed their willingness to donate blood; so more than a thousand people donated blood in one day, and they set a record.
The blood drives that were held until April were reported 46 times through central and local media outlets, and they informed many people of the importance of donating blood in the age of pandemic. Ricardo Lara, Maywood City Mayor who attended the blood donation in Los Angeles on January 17, held an online awards ceremony on February 10 and presented a citation to the WeLoveU. He praised the WeLoveU’s blood drive, saying, “It’s a great and wonderful event.”
American members practiced love for humanity by donating blood. They said they would continue to take care of their neighbors without delay although it was a difficult time for all.
Conducting '2020 Blood Drives' in the Midst of Pandemic Impact in the U.S., Brazil, and New Zealand
People must continue to donate blood for saving lives
“How about getting rid of the whole year 2020?”
Wrapping up the year of 2020, people talk half-jokingly to one another like that. It is because their daily life has completely collapsed and there are so many hardships that they don’t want to remember. Moreover, it became harder for them to share feelings together. Although they tried to be close to one another, it became harder to have meals together due to the restrictions.
However, when people are asked if they really want to get rid of the year 2020, they all say, “No, we don’t want that to happen.” There is one story from YouTube about a person who said, “During the year, I met someone who supports me, met my life partner, and spent great time with my family.” He said it was a great year during which he could learn to be humble and patient. Although it was a year that people wanted to erase, in fact they did not want to erase even the precious moments they had. There were many comments on that video, saying that it was heartwarming and comforting.
When times are tough, people get comforted through heartwarming stories. Furthermore, what if the heartwarming stories are about saving lives? What else can be more beautiful than this?
Amid the pandemic, many people require blood transfusions, but the number of blood donors has dropped sharply due to fear of the virus. Although blood shortage has become serious, the government of each country cannot help but regretfully accept their situation. The members of the Intl. WeLoveU Foundation (hereinafter referred to as the WeLoveU ) in the U.S., Brazil, and New Zealand rolled up their sleeves, hoping that others too would voluntarily donate blood. In the second half of 2020, they continued the noble act of sharing their lives by carrying out blood drives while adhering to COVID-19 preventative measures. They said people should continue to donate blood even in a small scale in order to save people in danger.
The baton of life delivered to the U.S., Brazil, and New Zealand
American members took the first step to donate blood. On September 6, members of the WeLoveU chapter in Salt Lake City, Utah, donated blood through the American Red Cross. Among the 38 members who applied for blood donation, 35 members successfully donated blood. In November, blood drives held in succession in three regions of the United States. On November 1, the WeLoveU chapter in Sunland, CA, at Huntington Memorial Hospital in Pasadena, Los Angeles; and on the 8th, the WeLoveU chapter in Salt Lake City, Utah, together with the chapters in Billings and Great Falls, Montana, at Yellowstone Billings Vitalant; and on the 29th, the chapter in Honolulu, Oahu, Hawaii, donated blood at Dillingham Blood Center, Hawaii. A total of 96 members from three regions participated in the blood drive, and 68 members successfully donated blood. Hawaii. A total of 96 members from three regions participated in the blood drive, and 68 members successfully donated blood.
The blood drive at Hawaii started at 6:30 in the morning because a member made an early appointment through the Internet and so the event began at dawn. It is natural for the WeLoveU members who take the lead in the noble work of saving lives.
The WeLoveU members in Brazil took over the blood drive baton from the United States. At Brasília Blood Center in Brazil, 29 WeLoveU members participated in donating blood. It was arranged on October 29 to help one of WeLoveU member’s family member who had surgery to fight cancer and needed a large amount of blood. One member had prepared for donating blood; she drank water often, exercised, and ate a wide variety of healthy foods. She said, “I’m happy to share love with my neighbors through blood donation. I want to be of help to all those who are ill through my healthy blood.”
The WeLoveU members in Auckland, New Zealand, donated blood on November 23 and December 3 at New Zealand Blood Bank in Manukau and Epsom. The blood donation time was divided into three sessions to make sure no one misses out on donating blood due to their work, and the workers were guided to donate blood in the last blood donation session. A total of 62 people successfully donated blood in two regions. New Zealand Blood Bank sent letters of appreciation to the WeLoveU chapters in the two regions.
Even though COVID-19 swept the whole world, people should continue to donate blood. It is because it is the right thing to make every effort to save dying lives, regardless of situation. In the year of 2020, there were many hardships and difficulties, but it was a meaningful year when they could work hard for saving other people’s lives; so they could not remove the year of 2020. It was a precious time when they could share love with others by donating blood.
The 159–359th Worldwide Blood Drives
Worldwide sharing life in celebration of the World Blood Donor Day
Every year, June 14 is the World Blood Donor Day when we express gratitude to all the blood donors who shared their life with other people. On the day, many countries hold diverse blood donation activities to promote blood donation and raise awareness of it.
In June 2019, the Intl. WeLoveU Foundation too carried out the Worldwide Blood Drives. Its first blood drive in 2019 was the 159th one, and about 200 blood drives were carried out until the 359th blood drive this year. About 30,000 citizens, centering on the WeLoveU members in each country, participated in the blood drives to help people facing difficulty due to lack of blood supply; 14,271 people successfully donated blood.
The WeLoveU conducted blood drives for seven weeks from June 16 to July 31 in 40 regions of Korea and in 158 regions in 50 different countries around the world. Not only Mexico, U.S., and India that normally participate in blood drives, but also the 16 countries such as Zimbabwe, Namibia, the Dominican Republic, Germany, Laos, Myanmar, Bangladesh, Botswana, Ethiopia, Uganda, Uruguay, Cameroon, Costa Rica, DR Congo, Pakistan, and Puerto Rico, participated in the blood drive for the first time.
The WeLoveU’s blood drive was held in government offices, shopping centers, and parks as well as hospitals, drawing attention from local communities. Some WeLoveU branches raised the awareness of blood donation by arranging a panel display on the topic of “Receiving Life without Cost, and Sharing without Cost,” and promoted the importance of blood donation. The members held picket signs that read “1 Sacrifice Can Save 3 Lives” and “The Greatest Joy is Giving Life,” attracting voluntary participation from citizens. Through musical performance along with additional events such as face-painting, play experiences, and photo zone, the WeLoveU members set the scene for more citizens’ involvement in the blood donation.
The WeLoveU also carried out signature-seeking campaign of “Saving Lives” on its public website in order to encourage citizens to voluntarily donate blood. More than 6,000 citizens from 51 countries gave supporting signatures and promised to become responsible citizens who practices “sharing life” through donating blood at least once a year.
The 163rd blood drive held in San Bernardino, California, U.S. on June 30 was the largest blood drive in that region. Out of 1022, 715 people successfully donated blood. Eloise Gomez Reyes, a member of the House Representative, presented a certificate of appreciation to the WeLoveU, saying, “All of you did not just say words, but practiced them.”
Governments and public offices in each country too actively participated in the blood donation. When the 178th blood drive was held at Cheonan City Hall on July 3, the city mayor made an announcement of the blood drivem, and as a result, the city council members and officers of the city government, too, participated in it. On July 10, the 209th blood drive was held at the head office of the Lao Front for National Development, which is a government agency of Laos; 126 people, including officials at the head office, doctors, soldiers, and citizens as well as WeLoveU members, participated in the blood drive with one mind.
On July 18, the 244th blood drive was held and Britta Dimanski the Director of the Institute of Transfusion Medicine in Berlin expressed gratitude to the WeLoveU members, saying, “In Germany, the number of blood donors has been decreasing by 100,000 every year due to old age or illness. There is no way that people can receive blood transfusion other than through blood donation. So it is extremely important that the number of new blood donors increases.”
The blood drive for freely sharing life with others started from the heart of a mother, and is now actively being carried out throughout the world. The news of blood drive from each country lets us fully realize that world citizens are part of one global family. Until the slogan for saving lives reaches every country, the powerful “pulse of love” of the WeLoveU Foundation will continue.
Worldwide Blood Drive in Salt Lake City, U.S.
Blood Donation ― A 36.5-Degree-Love Saving Lives
WeLoveU shares a 36.5-degree-love with a mother’s loving heart through its Worldwide Blood Drive. On June 23, 2019, the WeLoveU hosted its 159th Worldwide Blood Drive at the Salt Lake City Donation Center in Utah, the U.S.
Members of the WeLoveU branch in Utah, the U.S., joined the Missing Types campaign launched by the American Red Cross as partners. As we might not realize how important letters A, B and O can be until they are gone in the alphabet, the campaign raises awareness about what could happen when blood goes missing (A,B and O blood groups) for the patients in need of blood transfusions. A week before the blood drive, the WeLoveU members actively conducted promotional activities to encourage as many people as possible to participate in blood donations.
Dropping the letters A, B and O from logos of the WeLoveU and the American Red Cross
WeLoveU joins the Missing Types campaign of the American Red Cross through its 159th Worldwide Blood Drive
At 8 a.m. on the blood drive day, the WeLoveU members gathered together at the Salt Lake City Blood Center to greet people who came to participate in the blood drive. Family programs, snacks and beverages were prepared by the Blood Center, welcoming everyone to participate in the blood drive in a warm and cheerful atmosphere. The blood drive lasted for 6 hours and a total of 41 out of 86 participants succeed in donating their blood.
“Only 3 out of 100 people give blood in the U.S. Backed by the active cooperation of the WeLoveU, we expect to recruit more blood donors,” said Sherri Van Bibber (Blood Services Department at the American Red Cross) who participated in the event. ABC4 Utah, one of the top 3 American broadcasters, broadcast the WeLoveU’s blood drive which helped people better understand the importance of blood donations.
The WeLoveU steps up its efforts in spreading the life-saving movement through blood donations supported by a global network on blood donation established at the Save the World Global Forum 2019 and an MOU signed with the Korean Red Cross, etc. The WeLoveU plans to carry out its Worldwide Blood Drive on a constant basis, with the aim of saving the lives of people at risk through the combined effort of each individual.
Sharing Life through Blood Drive in Ulsan, with 400 Participants
On August 27, the 156th Blood Drive was held in Ulsan. In the noble service of sharing life, the members in Ulsan came together with one mind.
At the event held at the Ulsan Blood Bank, many different groups of people gathered such as, workers on their way to work, college students on their way to class, and wives after their housework. The participants smiled brightly saying, “I participated with the heart of a mother who saves her family.”
The Ulsan Blood Bank supported the event through blood donation vehicles and snacks. The president of the Korean Red Cross Society, the director of the Ulsan Blood Bank, the members of Ulsan City Hall, the deputy president of the city council, and local officials were present and encouraged the donors who participated in the event of sharing life.
The WeLoveU’s blood drive was covered by the media such as KBS Ulsan, UBS Ulsan, and Kyeongsang Ilbo, and gained much attention about blood donation from the local citizens.
The WeLoveU Ulsan Branch hosted the Clean WORLD Movement as well as the blood drive to share love with its neighbors.
They’ve been making efforts to keep Ulsan clean in various places such as Cheokgwacheon Stream, Seuldo, Daewangam Park, Taehwa River, Dongcheon River, and Hogaecheon Stream.