CALIFORNIA MAKES 9 FOR PLATELETS ACROSS AMERICA  

Rancho Mirage – (March 25, 2008), Al Whitney, from Avon Lake, OH has successfully donated platelets in another state as he continues his quest to raise awareness for the need for platelet donations, by donating platelets in all 50 of the United States. His ninth donation was with Community Blood Bank in Rancho Mirage, California.

 Mr. Whitney, founder of “Platelets Across America” was a featured guest speaker at Community Blood Bank of the Desert’s 35^th Anniversary celebration March 12, 2008. He shared his passion for donating platelets and whole blood to approximately 300 invited guests, hopefully inspiring others to join him in his cause.

Al Whitney began donating blood in 1965 and has been an active ambassador for the cause ever since. To date Whitney has donated 5 gallons of whole blood and over 600 units of platelets.  States where Mr. Whitney has donated thus far include Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, Virginia, Ohio and now California. He has also donated platelets in Sydney, Australia. 

Community Blood Bank in Rancho Mirage has been fulfilling it’s vital ‘life-giving’ mission 24 hours a day, 7-days a week, 365-days a year, the Community Blood Bank annually supplies nearly 30,000 blood components for transfusion at the five area hospitals, including the Naval Hospital on the 29 Palms Marine Corp Base, and area cancer centers and home health agencies.