September 2, 2005

It takes all types to make a difference

Carmen Alvarez from the Partners Finance Department in Materials Management is one of 106 MGH and Partners employees who have donated blood so far during the annual MGH vs. BWH Blood Donor Challenge. Alvarez and her colleagues Jasmine Daniel, Paul Riley and Jackie Mallard are among many employees from Partners Materials Management who have participated as a department to support the challenge.

This group donated Aug. 30 when the MGH Blood Donor Center offered free massages to all employee donors. The MGH team currently is at 42 percent of the challenge goal of recruiting 250 donors. Right, Alvarez gets a free massage from Kevin von Braun of Orange Sky Massage, who has donated his services for the last three years of the challenge.

The friendly competition between the two hospitals will last until Sept. 9, and all employees who donate for the MGH team will receive an Employee Blood Drive Challenge T-shirt as a special thank you for donating and also will be entered into a drawing to win two roundtrip tickets to any destination served by Independence Air.

Below is the schedule of activities for the remainder of the challenge.

• Sept. 2 — All donors will be entered into a drawing for a Comedy Connection package (admission for four, a $50 gift certificate and reduced parking).

• Sept. 6 and 7 — Pizza party.

• Sept. 8 — All donors will be entered to win two free passes to Six Flags or a free pass to a wine tasting event.

• Sept. 9 — All donors will be entered to win one of two Patriots autographed donor T-shirts.

To make an appointment to donate as a part of the MGH team, call the MGH Blood Donor Center at (617) 726-8177.