Last Tuesday, March 3, 51 UCOP colleagues participated in a Red Cross Blood Drive in Oakland. Together, they donated 45 units of blood — enough to provide crucial support for up to 135 people in need of surgery, cancer treatment or transfusions following traumatic injuries.

The blood drive was organized by UCOP retiree Jan Kehoe, who has long been passionate about the critical importance of blood donations. She encourages colleagues interested in giving back to contact her to reserve a donation appointment for our next drive on April 29. It’s easy to sign up: Email Jan with the times that work with your schedule.

The history of blood drives at UCOP Oakland

• UCOP held its first Red Cross Blood Drive almost 25 years ago — on Nov. 13, 2000. Since then (except during pandemic office closures), UCOP has proudly hosted five drives each year.
• About a dozen UCOP volunteers who frequently donate blood have been donating for more than a decade. Trish Dolan has been donating since our very first drive!
• Our most successful drive to date was the Oct. 1, 2009, event, during which we collected 56 units of blood. Since then, the goal has been to reach 50 again.
• The last blood donation event before the Oakland offices closed for the pandemic took place on Feb. 27, 2020. While offices were closed, many UCOP staff continued to support the Red Cross by donating in their local communities.
• In the early days, the Red Cross bus parked in front of the EBMUD building, and donors crossed the street to give blood in a very limited space. Today, we host our drives in Lobby 1 of the Oakland Franklin building, a more spacious and welcoming location with room to grow.

For further questions about the blood drives, contact Jan.

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