FIRE & LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICIALS

KICK OFF 8th ANNUAL BADGES FOR LIFE

Springfield – Surrounded by local business owners and fire and law enforcement officials, the Central Illinois Community Blood Center kicked off its 8th annual Badges for Life Competition today at Sangamon County Sheriff Neil Williamson’s Office.    The Competition pits the law enforcement community (Sangamon County Sheriff’s Office, State Police, and the Springfield Police Department) against the fire service (Springfield Fire Department and the Office of the State Fire Marshal).

“While Memorial Day is traditionally the beginning of summer, it also triggers the beginning of decreased blood donations during these months.  We are extremely gratefully that Badges for Life has now become a community tradition in helping us saving lives during the slow period,” said CICBC CEO David Parsons.  “The support the fire service and law enforcement has given us over the past 8 years has been tremendous and I would like to commend them for going to bat for us once again.   I would also like to thank the local business owners who, because of their generous financial support, made the T-shirts and donor prizes possible.  Incentives such as these are extremely important in building enthusiasm for our blood drives”

The competition runs through the end of August and is not limited to Department employees; friends, family, and supports can donate blood and ask that credit be given to either law enforcement or the fire service.   A series of blood drives are being held throughout the summer in conjunction with the competition. As an incentive to encourage their employees to donate blood, top officials from the winning side have agreed to take a pie in the face on behalf of the cause at the end of the competition.  

“Though it was messy being on the receiving end of the pie in the face at last year’s competition, I was proud of our blood collection efforts.   I look forward to encouraging my employees and friends to donate blood this summer starting with today’s blood drive,”  said Sheriff Williamson, who also hosted a blood drive at his Office today in conjunction with the press conference.

Every donor will receive a Badges for Life shirt.  The Central Illinois Community Blood Center would like to express their gratitude to Central Illinois Hematology Oncology Center, CMFI Group, Custom Shirt Works,  F.J. Murphy and Son, Memorial Medical Center, New York Life Insurance, Orthopaedic Center of Illinois, Staab Funeral Home and Young’s Security for their generosity in sponsoring the shirts.   Springfield’s newest baseball team, the Springfield Sliders and Baker’s Square are also donating vouchers which will be given away at some of the scheduled blood drives.

Everyone was treated to desert from Baker’s Square and their employees were on hand to show off a sampling of the types of pies which will be tossed at the wrap up press conference in September.

The Central Illinois Community Blood Center relies 100% on volunteer blood donations to serve patients at 19 hospitals in Central and Southwestern Illinois.

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