FOR RELEASE: Through September 1, 2008

ATLANTA - The American Red Cross and the Atlanta Dream, the WNBA’s newest team, have joined forces to encourage basketball fans to give the gift of life this summer by donating blood.  The blood drive begins on Sunday, Aug. 24, and continues through Sept. 1, 2008.  During this time frame, everyone who presents to donate blood or platelets at an American Red Cross blood drive or donor center will have a chance to win an authentic basketball signed by the Atlanta Dream team or two lower-level tickets to the Sept. 8, 2008, Atlanta Dream game against the Indiana Fever (tip off at 7 pm).

“We’re excited to partner with the Atlanta Dream to help emphasize the need for blood donations during what is traditionally a trying time for blood collections,” said Tracye Bryant, American Red Cross Southern Blood Services Region director of communications.  “There is a great need for blood donors year-round, and we are grateful to the Atlanta Dream for helping in such a meaningful way.”

Decreased blood donations during the summer make it difficult to supply local hospitals with the blood needed for patients, say Red Cross officials.  The Southern Region needs 1,200 blood donations each weekday in order to adequately supply more than 130 hospitals and healthcare facilities.  However, this goal is seldom achieved, and blood must be brought in from other regions to routinely meet the needs here.  A regional appeal for more blood and platelet donors, issued in July, is still in effect.

Currently, supplies of type O and B blood are especially low, and donors with those blood types are urged to make a special effort to donate before Labor Day.  The universal blood type, O negative, is used extensively in emergency rooms, since it can be safely given to all patients who need immediate transfusions.  With Labor Day around the corner, an increase in travel-related accidents during the holiday weekend added to the daily emergencies at local hospitals means the need for blood is even more crucial.

To learn more about the Atlanta Dream blood donation events or to find the nearest donor center or blood drive, call 1-800-GIVE-LIFE (448-3543) or visit www.givebloodredcross.org.  Most healthy people age 17 or older, who weigh at least 110 pounds, can give blood.