Spring Support for Pediatric Care
BJ’s Wholesale Club and Boston Children’s Hospital Launch Blood Donor Challenge
Westborough, Ma., March 21, 2016 /3BL Media/ – With the warm days of spring around the corner, now is the time of year people reflect on ways they can grow their support of the community. BJ’s Wholesale Club is challenging the Bay State to help increase the Boston Children’s Hospital’s (BCH) registered donor base by 5,000 donors through the end of 2016. Anyone in the Commonwealth can join BJ’s and BCH in raising awareness of the significant role blood donation plays in pediatric care by registering as a blood donor.
Across the United States, more than 41,000 blood donations are used every day – that’s 1.23 million donations per month. Locally, patients at BCH are in need of 24,000 blood transfusions each year, but that is more than three times the number of blood donations the Boston Children’s Hospital Bloodmobile receives over the same period. To help, local BJ’s locations will host the Boston Children’s Hospital Bloodmobile throughout the year.
"We're so thankful for BJ's Charitable Foundation's continued support of the work of our Bloodmobile. Each donation made on our bus or in our Blood Donor Center directly helps up to four patients at Boston Children's - which is why keeping a full supply is so critical to the care we provide. There is no substitute for blood and we rely on the generosity of our volunteer blood donors to help patients across the entire hospital," said Maureen Beaton, Manager, Transfusion Medicine Service, Boston Children’s Hospital.
In April 2014, BJ's Charitable Foundation continued its ongoing support of BCH by donating $250,000 to support the Bloodmobile, which includes the following features:
- A high-tech blood center in a 40-foot custom coach with all of the equipment available at the hospital-based blood center
- Outfitted with five-beds
- Ability for technicians to collect different blood components, such as red cells and platelets, for many different patient needs
- An onboard computer system to make the process efficient by allowing technicians to quickly enter donor information and access hospital records
- Donor screening, donating and post donation taking only 30 minutes
"Through our valued partnership with Boston Children’s Hospital, we have witnessed the vital role the Bloodmobile plays in meeting the demand of blood supply to help save patient lives,” said Bob Eddy, Chief Financial Officer of BJ’s Wholesale Club. “We hope that this challenge will encourage people to register as a donor and create a positive, long-lasting impact for more children and families."
On Thursday, March 24, the BJ’s Club in Hyannis at 420 Attucks Lane is hosting the Bloodmobile from 12:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. To register or find a local blood drive, visit https://www.halfpints.childrenshospital.org.
About BJ’s Wholesale Club
Headquartered in Westborough, Massachusetts, BJ's is a leading operator of membership warehouse clubs in the Eastern United States. The company currently operates 213 clubs and 128 BJ’s Gas® locations 15 states.
BJ’s provides great value in a one-stop shopping destination filled with top-quality, leading brands including its exclusive Wellsley Farms and Berkley Jensen brands along with USDA Choice meats, premium produce and delicious organics in many supermarket sizes.. BJ’s is also the only membership club to accept all manufacturers' coupons and, for greater convenience, offers the most payment options.
Giving back has always been at the very core of BJ’s culture. Through local clubs, volunteerism, BJ’s Feeding Communities, Adopt-A-School Program, BJ’s Charitable Foundation, and many more efforts, the company supports and enhances programs that provide vital services within each community it serves. To learn more, visit www.bjs.com/community.
To check out all the MORE BJ’s has to offer, visit www.BJs.com and for exclusive content find us on Facebook, Twitter , Pinterest and Instagram.
About Boston Children’s Hospital
Boston Children’s Hospital is home to the world’s largest research enterprise based at a pediatric medical center, where its discoveries have benefited both children and adults since 1869. More than 1,100 scientists, including seven members of the National Academy of Sciences, 11 members of the Institute of Medicine and 10 members of the Howard Hughes Medical Institute comprise Boston Children’s research community. Founded as a 20-bed hospital for children, Boston Children’s today is a 404-bed comprehensive center for pediatric and adolescent health care. Boston Children’s is also the pediatric teaching affiliate of Harvard Medical School. For more, visit our Vector and Thriving blogs and follow us on our social media channels: @BostonChildrens, @BCH_Innovation, Facebook and YouTube.
