American Red Cross

PEORIA, Ill. (October 21, 2008) – The lives of one Pekin family changed forever as they found out they were selected to have their house radically changed by the Extreme Makeover: Home Edition team. In addition to building a home, the Extreme Makeover: Home Edition team is extending their goodwill to the entire community by encouraging people to donate blood and join the National Marrow Donor Program (NMDP) registry in honor of the winning family.

The following is a list of blood drives near the Extreme Makeover: Home Edition building site:

Friday, October 24   Pekin Edison Junior High School, 1400 Earl St. 
12 p.m.-6 p.m.

Saturday, October 25       Pekin Edison Junior High School         
10 a.m.-4 p.m.

Saturday, October 25       Location near building site, TBA
10 a.m.-4 p.m.

Monday, October 27         Location near building site, TBA
11 a.m.-5 p.m.

At the Friday blood drive, Rib Hillis, one of the designers from Extreme Makeover: Home Edition, will be donating blood. In addition, Hillis will visit the blood drives on Saturday to greet donors and sign autographs. Eligible blood donors are encouraged to attend the autograph session, but also to consider giving an hour of their time to donate blood and join the bone marrow registry as a way of honoring the Grys family during the construction of their new home.

All presenting donors at the school drives on Friday and Saturday will have the opportunity to join the NMDP Registry for free, a savings of $52.

To donate blood you need to be 17 years old, 16 with a signed Red Cross parental/guardian consent form, must weigh at least 110 pounds and be in general good health. A blood donor card or driver’s license, or two other forms of identification are required at check-in.

All blood types are needed to ensure a reliable supply for patients. Call 1-800-GIVE-LIFE or visit givebloodgivelife.org to make a blood donation appointment or for more information.
 

About ABC-TVs Extreme Makeover: Home Edition
Each episode is self-contained and features a race against time on a project that would ordinarily take at least four months, involving a team of designers, contractors and several hundred workers who have just seven days (one week for the actual construction) to rebuild an entire house – every room, the exterior and landscaping.  Extreme Makeover: Home Edition, which has won back-to-back Emmy Awards as Best Reality Program (non-competitive), is entering its 6th season on ABC.  The program is produced by Endemol USA, a division of Endemol Holding.  Anthony Dominici is the executive producer; and David Goldberg is the president of Endemol USA.

About the American Red Cross
Governed by volunteers and supported by giving individuals and communities, the American Red Cross is the single largest supplier of blood products to hospitals throughout the United States. While local hospital needs are always met first, the Red Cross also helps ensure no patient goes without blood no matter where or when they need it. In addition to providing nearly half of the nation’s blood supply, the Red Cross provides relief to victims of disaster, trains millions in lifesaving skills, serves as a communication link between U.S. military members and their families, and assists victims of international disasters or conflicts.

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