BELLEFONTE – On March 13, when Winter Storm Stella was about to dump more than a foot of snow on Central Pennsylvania, Restek feared it would be forced to cancel its blood drive the following day. However, in close collaboration with the Red Cross, Restek was able to reschedule the event just two days later — and employees rallied to collect 25 units, which can save as many as 75 lives.
“I never should have panicked because I work with exceptional people who do exceptional things every day,” said A.J. Saclyn, a sales territory manager at Restek and the company’s blood drive coordinator.
Every two months for the last 16 years, Restek has held a blood drive with the American Red Cross, with an average of 30 people donating each time. That translates to 180 units per year, making Restek the top business blood drive sponsor in Centre County.
In recognition of this achievement, the Mid Central Pennsylvania Chapter of the American Red Cross awarded Restek with its Business Partnership Award this year.
“This was a no-brainer for me; they are truly amazing,” said Laura Merritt, donor recruitment representative for the Greater Alleghenies Blood Region of the American Red Cross. “They’re my number one business in terms of blood drives and collections in this area. The donors are so loyal — they always pull together and have a great drive.”
Carrie Sprout, a product manager at Restek, first brought the Red Cross to Restek for a blood drive in 2001. Saclyn took over the program two years ago with ambitions to grow it even more.
When Saclyn turned 55 last year, he encouraged 55 donors — nearly twice the regular amount of a Restek blood drive — to step up and donate. This year, in honor of winning the Business Partnership Award, the bar was raised to 60 donors for Restek’s May 17 blood drive, and again, employees and their families rose to the challenge, with 64 potential donors already having filled every scheduled slot.
For more information, visit www.restek.com.
