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.<\/p>\n
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BU’s Delta Tau Delta Fraternity hosts blood drive, print story<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n Peoria, IL – Bradley University\u2019s Delta Tau Delta fraternity hosted an American Red Cross blood drive Monday at the school\u2019s Markin Recreation Center.<\/p>\n The event, held from 11:00 a.m. till 4:00 p.m., was apart of the fraternity\u2019s first ever philanthropy week.<\/p>\n \u201cThis is something that has been in the works for the Delt\u2019s fraternity for a while now,\u201d said Delta Tau Delta\u2019s philanthropy chair, Ryan Gutcaewysky. \u201cThis is the year it all came together and we are really excited as a house to get it started.\u201d<\/p>\n Philanthropy is an essential cornerstone for all 15 fraternities and seven sororities on Bradley University\u2019s campus, although not all 22 organizations have an established philanthropy week.<\/p>\n \u201cOur fraternity has had a philanthropy week since long before I came to Bradley, and it\u2019s something that all the other fraternities and sororities on campus are always willing to participate in,\u201d said Sigma Nu fraternity member Wyatt Freeman. \u201cIt\u2019s always a great feeling to help out another group on campus especially when you know it\u2019s going towards a great cause.\u201d<\/p>\n 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\u2019s team supervisor on site Monday, Kelly Thompson.<\/p>\n \u201cMy 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,\u201d<\/p>\n Thomson said emotionally. \u201cWe are very thankful to be able to do this.\u201d<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n \u201cYou never know if it\u2019s going to be you or a loved one that\u2019s going to need blood,\u201d Thompson added.<\/p>\n The goal for this particular drive was 60 units according to Thompson.<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n \u201cMy 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 \u2018wussy\u2019 and to donate,\u201d Vaughn said, chuckling. \u201cIt was something I really enjoyed, knowing I\u2019m helping essentially save lives, and I\u2019ve been hooked ever since.\u201d<\/p>\n The Delta Tau Delta philanthropy week will continue on Tuesday, as the fraternity will be hosting a \u201cPie a Delt\u201d event on the campus quad. Participants will have the option to bake pies and sell them to raise money for their own house\u2019s philanthropy. Gutcaewysky recommends that participants also sell them by the slice so more people are likely to purchase them.<\/p>\n The American Red Cross will be on Bradley\u2019s campus once again in November for their annual \u201cGreek Week Blood Drive.\u201d The official date of Bradley\u2019s 2014 Greek Week is yet to be determined.<\/p>\n For more information on the American Red Cross, visit redcrossblood.org<\/a>, or call 800-RED-CROSS.<\/p>\n BU’s Delta Tau Delta Fraternity hosts blood drive, video component<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n