Nonprofit regional blood center Blood Assurance announced that Southeast Lineman Training Center is its July #BAChampion community partner. A #BAChampion is a community partner who has committed to raising awareness within their community through various special events dedicated to education and blood collection.
“As a #BAChampion, SLTC’s staff and students can give back to the community and provide help nationwide with the life-saving gift of blood,” said George Nelson, CEO for Southeast Lineman Training Center. “Hosting annual blood drives teaches our students early in their career that they can make a huge impact. Knowing that they can make a difference in the community by donating is something we hope our students will take with them for the rest of their lives.”
SLTC has partnered with Blood Assurance since 2007 and hosts three annual blood drives in support of the organization. SLTC hosts a blood drive for each graduating class, with three classes of about 230 students graduating each year. The center is forecasted to donate 400 units this year in addition to donations from July’s #BAChampion drive.
“We are grateful for SLTC’s consistent support of the blood supply through their three annual drives and it’s our honor to have them as our July #BAChampion,” said Jay Baumgardner, executive director of marketing and community relations for Blood Assurance. “Within their three days hosting a drive annually, SLTC will take care of one full day of the blood supply. We are excited to see SLTC and the community rise to the challenge of donating throughout the month of July.”
SLTC, a Trenton-based company founded in 1999, trains more than 800 electrical linemen from all across the U.S. and other countries annually. In order to achieve standards for this industry, SLTC works with electrical co-ops to teach students the best practices. In 15 weeks, students are educated in around 80 out of 250 possible certifications to be a lineman. SLTC hosts job recruiters in Trenton to meet and interview these students so that they have job opportunities before they leave the center.
Through the #BAChampion initiative, Blood Assurance unites with businesses and organizations to further educate the community on the importance of blood donations. The #BAChampion title is given to an organization that is dedicated to raising awareness of the constant need for blood donations within their community.
To learn more about becoming a #BAChampion, please contact the Blood Assurance Marketing Department at 752-5926 or visit bloodassurance.org/bachampion-2017. For the latest Blood Assurance news and updates, follow @BloodAssurance on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
To be eligible to donate blood, participants must be at least 18 years old (16 and 17 years old with parental consent), weigh 110 pounds or more and be in good health. Donors are asked to drink plenty of fluids — avoiding caffeine — and eat a meal that is rich in iron prior to donating. To schedule an appointment at a donor center or blood drive near you, please visit www.bloodassurance.org, call 800-962-0628 or text ‘BAGIVE ‘ to 444999.