Valentines for life

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Susan Stout
  • 944th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
LUKE AIR FORCE BASE, Ariz. --  Luke was recognized for contributions made to Arizona's blood supply during United Blood Services' annual celebration for blood drive coordinators Feb. 7.
 
Wing blood drive coordinators 1st Lt. Erica Guttenberg, 1st Lt. Christopher Jones and 2nd Lt. John Woods accepted the Valentines for Life Award on behalf of the wing. 

The lieutenants will also accept a "Hero Award," United Blood Services most prestigious and most difficult award to earn. 

The Hero Award is given to the coordinator and organization that goes above and beyond to achieve success at blood drives, according to UBS.  Recipients of the Hero Award conduct blood drives during the most difficult times, organize volunteer groups, use planning committees and hold internal recognition events.
 
Luke's blood donors contributed to the 95,576 donations made throughout Arizona last year, which earned the wing a silver Valentines for Life Award. This award honors blood drive coordinators and organizations that achieved significant levels of performance in
recruiting blood donors at their locations. Of the 959 organizations in Arizona, Luke was one of 57 to receive the Valentines for Life Award. 

To be eligible for the platinum award, 12 percent of the population had to donate during blood drives. 

"I'm grateful to the young people who serve our Air Force -- young people like our three lieutenants being recognized  today, Erica Guttenberg, Christopher Jones and John Woods, who led the way  at Luke to reach both young and not-so young Airmen and garnered 1,214 blood donations last year," said Colonel David Orr, 56th Fighter Wing vice commander, during the awards luncheon. 

UBS serves patients in 50 Arizona hospitals. For more information, visit www.unitedbloodservices.org.
 
The next 56th Fighter Wing blood drive is April 23 through 27.