WHEREAS, The American Red Cross is a humanitarian, non-profit organization dedicated improving the quality of life, enhancing self-reliance and concern for others, and to helping people avoid, prepare for and cope with emergencies through disaster relief program; and
WHEREAS, For more than 50 years, the nation has relied on the American Red Cross to provide lifesaving blood and blood products to more than 3,000 hospitals nationwide; and
WHEREAS, Approximately 40,000 units of red cells are needed each day nationwide and more than 23 million components of blood are transfused each year; and
WHEREAS, Blood supplies in the Philadelphia area have dropped in recent months while the demand for blood products has risen; and
WHEREAS, One unit of blood will help five patients in need, including accident an burn victims, cancer patients, and children and adults suffering from sickle cell anemia; now therefore
BE IT RESOLVED, BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PHILADELPHIA, That we hereby recognize March as Red Cross Month and designate March 31, 2000 as City Council Blood Drive Day, and that all City Council members and staff and other City Hall personnel be invited and encouraged to participate in this worthy endeavor.
FURTHER RESOLVED, That an Engrossed copy of this resolution be presented to the American Red Cross as evidence of the respect and admiration of this legislative body for the important work they do in Philadelphia and the Delaware Valley.
End