JOHNSTOWN – Organizations often pay tribute to those groups and individuals who help out the most. The Greater Alleghenies Region’s annual “Celebrating Our Stars” was no different, honoring those who are the life-“blood” of the American Red Cross.
A Clearfield woman received the Edgar Cheely Award for Outstanding Volunteer Service.
Flo Lutz, known as “the Blood Lady” in Clearfield County since she accepted the chair of blood services seven years ago, was honored along with a Parkersburg, W.Va., woman.
In information provided by the American Red Cross Blood Services, Lutz was described as someone who “typifies the Red Cross way: She sees a situation, assesses the need, then works tirelessly to make it better.”
Clearfield County schools also received awards including the Clearfield County Career and Technology Center, West Branch Area School District and the Philipsburg-Osceola Area School District.
The CCCTC was honored for its two yearly blood drives. West Branch received its award for increasing the average production from its two drives per year from about 20 pints per drive to about 50pints per drive. The Pint Size Hero Award was given to the district’s elementary schools for collecting 205 pints of blood, or 150 percent of the project’s projected goal.
Regionally, Mandy Vactor of the Centre Communities Chapter of the American Red Cross was awarded Most Valued Blood Services Coordinator. Among other things, Vactor recruited her 3-year-old son, Justice, to aid in bringing in donors. Justice visited Bellefonte offices in a chicken costume to tell potential donors, “Don’t be chicken! Donate blood!”
The Pennsylvania State University also received the honor of being named the University of the Year. The university’s student Red Cross club conducts 135 blood drives each year. This fiscal year, the main campus’ goal is 7,056 units. Through April 25, 6,887 units were collected.
The Greater Alleghenies Region honored people and organizations in 18 counties at the event.