FAIRFIELD, Conn.—The Sacred Heart University community donated more than 430 pints of blood during its series of blood drives this semester, potentially saving about 1,300 lives during what is being called a national blood shortage crisis.
Over the course of nine weeks from February to April, Sacred Heart hosted eight, day-long blood drives to help alleviate the critical blood shortage in Connecticut. Faculty, staff and students showed up at each drive, ready to donate. In total, 434 people gave blood, and each donation had the potential of saving three lives, according to statistics.
In December, the Connecticut Blood Center (CTBC) announced a “blood emergency,” exacerbated by decreases in blood donations due to holidays, winter weather and concern over COVID-19 variants. Pandemic safety shutdowns at campuses and corporations across the state meant the CTBC could not conduct many of its regular mobile blood drives, according to a CTBC spokesperson.
“What was accomplished at SHU is nothing short of incredible. Amidst a blood crisis, your community made a direct impact on making sure that local hospitals, such as St. Vincent’s Medical Center, had the blood they needed for the patients they serve,” said Jonathan DeCasanova of the CTBC, in a letter to the SHU community.
SHU President John J. Petillo said he’s proud of all University community members who volunteered their time and donated. He was one of the first to roll up his sleeve in February.
Petillo said he’s not surprised the SHU community jumped on board to support the effort. “Students and employees believe in the University’s mission and vision, which call for caring and the promotion of good in society,” he said. “I’m gratified that we could make a difference and help with the state’s blood shortage.”
In the fall, Natalie Marques ’24, a biology major, began reaching out to fellow members of the equestrian team to combat state blood shortages with a campus blood drive. She hoped to encourage other athletes to give and, when she realized Petillo was also planning a campus event, a much bigger effort seemed possible.
“I’m very satisfied with the outcome of the drives,” Marques said. “We received more donations than originally expected and surpassed many goals. We originally had a goal of 20 donors when Dr. Petillo and I discussed the drive in November. Obtaining 434 donations shows how giving back is such a large priority for the SHU community. I’m excited to see where the blood drives end up in the future.”
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As the second-largest independent Catholic university in New England, and one of the fastest-growing in the U.S., Sacred Heart University is a national leader in shaping higher education for the 21st century. SHU offers nearly 90 undergraduate, graduate, doctoral and certificate programs on its Fairfield, Conn., campus. Sacred Heart also has satellites in Connecticut, Luxembourg and Ireland and offers online programs. More than 9,000 students attend the University’s nine colleges and schools: Arts & Sciences; Communication, Media & the Arts; Social Work; Computer Science & Engineering; Health Professions; the Isabelle Farrington College of Education & Human Development; the Jack Welch College of Business & Technology; the Dr. Susan L. Davis, R.N., & Richard J. Henley College of Nursing; and St. Vincent’s College. Sacred Heart stands out from other Catholic institutions as it was established and led by laity. The contemporary Catholic university is rooted in the rich Catholic intellectual tradition and the liberal arts, and at the same time cultivates students to be forward thinkers who enact change—in their own lives, professions and in their communities. The Princeton Review includes SHU in its Best 387 Colleges–2022 Edition, “Best Northeastern” and Best Business Schools–2022 Edition. Sacred Heart is home to the award-winning, NPR-affiliated radio station, WSHU, a Division I athletics program and an impressive performing arts program that includes choir, band, dance and theatre. www.sacredheart.edu