For Miami Valley Today
DAYTON — Chaminade Julienne High School senior John Huffman from Tipp City has won $1,000 for college tuition in the 2020 Community Blood Center/Vectren, A CenterPoint Energy Company Lead The Way Scholarship competition.
John chose a sports theme for his campaign “Be Part of a Winning Team, Give Blood.” It features a long-sleeve T-shirt with a team sports jersey design, including a large number “3” on the front for “3 Lives Save” and his slogan and the CBC blood drop on the back.
“My theme will inspire my classmates to donate blood because it targets what a lot of students love most and that is sports,” John said.
The inspiration for the front of the sport is any sports jersey. Jerseys can be seen all around high schools whether professional or a student’s team jersey. When developing this shirt, I focused on what would excite a student most and that is inclusion and the value of donating blood and that is knowing that you saved three lives through a donation that is portrayed prominently on the front of the shirt with the jersey number.
“I think this will also encourage my classmates because it makes them feel like they are part of a larger cause of difference-makers which is what this winning team is. I would be inspired to give based on the fact that I am saving three lives with the blood I give, and I am directly impacting my community and making a difference.”
John comes from a family of blood donors. His dad State Senator Steve Huffman is an ER physician and lifelong blood donor who introduced the legislation designating January as “Blood Donor Awareness Month” in Ohio. John plans to attend the University of Notre Dame.
Blood donation requirements: Donors are required to provide a photo ID that includes their full name. Past CBC donors are also asked to bring their CBC donor ID card. Donors must be at least 17 years of age (16 years old with parental consent: form available at www.givingblood.org or at CBC branch & blood drive locations), weigh a minimum of 110 pounds (you may have to weigh more, depending on your height), and be in good physical health. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) changes blood donor eligibility guidelines periodically. Individuals with eligibility questions are invited to email [email protected] or call (800) 388-GIVE. Make an appointment at www.DonorTime.com.
Community Blood Center/Community Tissue Services® is an independent, not-for-profit organization. Community Blood Center provides blood products to 23 hospitals and health centers within a 15-county service area in the Miami (Ohio) and Whitewater (Indiana) Valleys. For more information about Community Blood Center/Community Tissue Services®, visit www.givingblood.org.
