Bradley University’s Delta Tau Delta fraternity hosted an American Red Cross blood drive signaling the start of the organization’s first ever philanthropy week. The blood drive was held from 11:00 a.m. till 4:00 p.m. in the Markin Recreation Performance Court.
BU’s Delta Tau Delta Fraternity hosts blood drive, print story
Peoria, IL – Bradley University’s Delta Tau Delta fraternity hosted an American Red Cross blood drive Monday at the school’s Markin Recreation Center.
The event, held from 11:00 a.m. till 4:00 p.m., was apart of the fraternity’s first ever philanthropy week.
“This is something that has been in the works for the Delt’s fraternity for a while now,” said Delta Tau Delta’s philanthropy chair, Ryan Gutcaewysky. “This is the year it all came together and we are really excited as a house to get it started.”
Philanthropy is an essential cornerstone for all 15 fraternities and seven sororities on Bradley University’s campus, although not all 22 organizations have an established philanthropy week.
“Our fraternity has had a philanthropy week since long before I came to Bradley, and it’s something that all the other fraternities and sororities on campus are always willing to participate in,” said Sigma Nu fraternity member Wyatt Freeman. “It’s always a great feeling to help out another group on campus especially when you know it’s going towards a great cause.”
Many who participate in donating blood to the American Red Cross have a special connection to someone who has been benefited by a donor, such as the organization’s team supervisor on site Monday, Kelly Thompson.
“My personal experience, I have a little nephew that is three years old now that received hundreds of units of blood last year thanks to people that host the blood drives, allow us to come in and do it and all the volunteers that come in and help us run the blood drive,”
Thomson said emotionally. “We are very thankful to be able to do this.”
Whether a donor had a special connection to there reason for donating or not, there are always a lot of smiles and good vibrations to be had at the American Red Cross blood drive events.
“You never know if it’s going to be you or a loved one that’s going to need blood,” Thompson added.
The goal for this particular drive was 60 units according to Thompson.
Bradley senior Hunter Vaughn, a constant donor to the Red Cross, has been doing so since he was 16, the earliest the organization allows someone to donate.
“My Dad told me one day in high school that we were going to run errands, and next thing I know we pull up to the donation site and he tells me not to be a ‘wussy’ and to donate,” Vaughn said, chuckling. “It was something I really enjoyed, knowing I’m helping essentially save lives, and I’ve been hooked ever since.”
The Delta Tau Delta philanthropy week will continue on Tuesday, as the fraternity will be hosting a “Pie a Delt” event on the campus quad. Participants will have the option to bake pies and sell them to raise money for their own house’s philanthropy. Gutcaewysky recommends that participants also sell them by the slice so more people are likely to purchase them.
The American Red Cross will be on Bradley’s campus once again in November for their annual “Greek Week Blood Drive.” The official date of Bradley’s 2014 Greek Week is yet to be determined.
For more information on the American Red Cross, visit redcrossblood.org, or call 800-RED-CROSS.
BU’s Delta Tau Delta Fraternity hosts blood drive, video component
Bradley University’s Delta Tau Delta fraternity hosted an American Red Cross blood drive on Monday September, 29. The event was held at the Markin Recreation Center Performance Court from 11:00 a.m. till 4:00 p.m. The event was apart of the Delta Tau Delta’s first ever philanthropy week. In the video, hear from the fraternity’s philanthropy chair, Ryan Gutcaewsky, as well as American Red Cross team supervisor, Kelly Thompson and her special connection to blood drive events. Bradley Senior Hunter Vaughn also took time to talk about his experience donating blood and what it means to him.