Nebraska Community Blood Bank Connects Blood Recipient to Donors

Moments after Dale Johnson shared his story of a motorcycle accident that nearly killed him, eight members of the audience made their way to the stage. He soon discovered these strangers were some of the 23 blood donors who helped save his life.

Johnson, news editor at KFOR Radio, was the keynote speaker at Nebraska Community Blood Bank’s (NCBB; NCBB.org) 50th anniversary event, celebrating its service to the community. Attendees included high gallon blood and platelet donors, blood drive sponsors, hospital partners, and NCBB staff (past and present).

“There wasn’t a dry eye in the room,” said Ellen DiSalvo, president of NCBB. “It’s an honor to see a recipient story unfold and a great reminder that blood donations impact real people and changes lives. Each person who does something to spread our mission, whether it’s donating blood, volunteering, or advocating to others, allows us to reach more blood donors and serve more communities with life-saving blood. As we celebrate our history, we also look to the future as one of Nebraska’s largest blood providers.”

Nebraska Community Blood Bank serves 19 hospitals, including Methodist Health System and Nebraska Medicine. To continue to ensure enough blood is available, NCBB needs to grow its donor base. Empower yourself and others to saves lives by hosting a blood drive or a lunch and learn. Learn more at blooddrives@ncbb.org. For more information, call 1-877-486-9414 or visit NCBB.org. Connect with NCBB on Facebook, LinkedIn, and Twitter.