The Junior League of Palo Alto•Mid Peninsula Hosts Blood Drive on February 20th to Celebrate 50 Years of Service to the Commu

The Junior League of Palo Alto•Mid Peninsula Hosts Blood Drive on February 20th to Celebrate 50 Years of Service to the Community


Menlo Park, CA – In celebration of its 50th anniversary of serving the community, the Junior League of Palo Alto•Mid Peninsula (JLPA•MP) is partnering with the American Red Cross to host a blood drive on Friday, February 20th. The blood drive, which will run from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., will take place at the Junior League’s headquarters at 555 Ravenswood Ave. in Menlo Park.

Interested donors can schedule an appointment and find additional information at redcrossblood.org (sponsor code: JLPAMP), or by calling 1-800-RED-CROSS (1-800-733-2767). To ensure the safety of blood donation for donors and recipients, all volunteer blood donors must be evaluated to determine their eligibility to give blood. More information on donor eligibility may be found online at redcrossblood.org/donating-blood/eligibility-requirements or by calling 1-866-236-3276.

“One of the League’s first projects was the development of the Community Blood Reserve, a mutual assistance blood-donor program for the Mid-Peninsula area,” said Jan Hickman, JLPA•MP President. “This upcoming blood drive is a fitting way to celebrate 50 years of service to the community, through the leadership and effective action of our trained volunteers.”

Celebrating 50 Years of Community Impact

Since its founding in 1965, the Junior League of Palo Alto•Mid Peninsula has contributed thousands of volunteer hours to the local community, supported nearly 100 community service projects, and awarded grants to 192 area nonprofit organizations. In its 50 years, the League has tackled important social issues such as affordable housing, societal violence, literacy and education, homelessness, drug addiction, and at-risk children and youth.

The League has also played a key role in starting several local nonprofits, including The Tech Museum of Innovation, Daybreak Shelter, The Stanford Health Library, Rebuilding Together Peninsula, East Palo Alto Charter School, and Rosalie Rendu Center.

Additionally, delegates from JLPA•MP participate in the State Public Affairs Committee of the Junior Leagues of California (SPAC), a non-partisan education and advocacy organization representing more than 11,000 women voters. SPAC’s efforts have resulted in passage of two critical bills dealing with domestic violence (Senate Bill 563) and health care (Assembly Bill 40).

Donating Blood Saves Lives


“Every two seconds, someone in the U.S. needs blood,” said Sara O’Brien, Communications Manager of the American Red Cross Northern California Blood Services Region. “Just a single donation can help save the lives of up to three people, and patients nationwide rely on generous donors.”

Since the beginning of the year, widespread flu and inclement winter weather in some parts of the country have prevented many regular donors from making or keeping their blood donation appointments. Healthy and diverse blood donors are needed to help maintain a sufficient blood supply.


About the Junior League of Palo Alto•Mid Peninsula, Inc.
The Junior League of Palo Alto•Mid Peninsula, Inc. (JLPA•MP) is an organization of women committed to promoting voluntarism, developing the potential of women and improving communities through the effective action and leadership of trained volunteers. The JLPA•MP serves the Peninsula communities of Atherton, Belmont, East Palo Alto, Foster City, Los Altos, Los Altos Hills, Menlo Park, Mountain View, Palo Alto, Portola Valley, Redwood City, San Carlos, Stanford, Sunnyvale and Woodside, and invites women of all races, religions and national origins who demonstrate an interest in and commitment to voluntarism to join our ranks. For more information, visit https://www.thejuniorleague.org.

How to donate blood
Simply download the American Red Cross Blood Donor App, visit redcrossblood.org or call 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767) to make an appointment or for more information. All blood types are needed to ensure a reliable supply for patients. A blood donor card or driver’s license or two other forms of identification are required at check-in. Individuals who are 17 years of age (16 with parental consent in some states), weigh at least 110 pounds and are in generally good health may be eligible to donate blood. High school students and other donors 18 years of age and younger also have to meet certain height and weight requirements.

About the American Red Cross
The American Red Cross shelters, feeds and provides emotional support to victims of disasters; supplies about 40 percent of the nation's blood; teaches skills that save lives; provides international humanitarian aid; and supports military members and their families. The Red Cross is a not-for-profit organization that depends on volunteers and the generosity of the American public to perform its mission. For more information, please visit redcross.org or visit us on Twitter at @RedCross.