The Community Blood Center of the Ozarks is commemorating 20 years of blood donations Friday during a program celebrating donors and employees.
CBCO’s Media Representative Chris Pilgrim explained that they have been celebrating their 20th anniversary all summer in numerous ways. That includes giving 20 year commemorative T-shirts to donors. He explained that the organization is especially grateful considering its humble beginnings.
“It wasn’t a sure thing that Community Blood Center of the Ozarks could make a go of it 20 years ago. It took some vision by some community leaders. It took excellent management by the employees and staff at the blood center initially and all through the years. It’s just been a wonderful, wonderful experiment that has turned out so well,” Pilgrim said.
CBCO’s service area now covers 39 hospitals whose patients are provided with blood from CBCO donors. Since it’s opening on September 18, 1995, CBCO’s donors have given close to 1.5 million blood or platelet donations.
“Our blood donors really is who we have to thank and who we owe a great deal of gratitude to for helping us to the conduit that provides that lifesaving help for area patients,” Pilgrim said.
The CBCO anniversary celebration will take place from 1 to 3 pm at the Thomas Donor Center, located at Campbell and Plainview Road. The event is open to the public.