Volunteers are the lifeblood 2

Volunteers are the lifeblood

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The American Red Cross prevents and alleviates human suffering by mobilizing the power of volunteers and the generosity of donors. They reached their goal of 500 votes and doubled their donation to reach $10,000.

Though perhaps best known for its disaster relief work, the Red Cross also collects and provides blood and blood products to patients nationwide. In fact, the Red Cross provides 40% of the nation’s supply of blood and blood products, making it the single largest source in the country. Because of its reach, the Red Cross needs a donor base as diverse as the patient population so it can collect all blood types and treat conditions that require repeated transfusions such as leukemia and sickle cell anemia.

Volunteers are the lifeblood 5
Katie Luckini and Tyler Davis, both agents at the Davis Insurance Group, volunteer to check in blood donors at a blood drive in Morgantown, W.Va.

A community leader

 

To support the Red Cross’s vital work, the Davis Insurance Group has become a leader in organizing blood drives in the communities they serve. Located in Westover, W.VA., the agency sponsors the popular Halloween “Give Till You Scream” drive, the “Downtown Drive,” which supports local businesses by handing out coupons to donors, and memorial blood drives, which honor loved ones lost to blood-related diseases.

 

Ten agency employees support the nonprofit, including commercial lines agent Katie Luckini, who serves as a Red Cross Community Volunteer Leader and member of the Diversity and Inclusion Committee. A tireless volunteer wrangler, Luckini recruits people to support the nonprofit in a variety of ways.

 

Volunteers are the lifeblood 1

Davis Insurance Group staff volunteering at a blood drive event. 

 

Keeping donations flowing during Covid

 

Across the U.S., donation drives hosted by high schools and universities are usually some of the largest and most reliable sources of blood — which is why the agency often supports drives at these locations. So, when schools closed due to COVID-19 safety protocols, the Davis Insurance Group got creative. The staff found new locations for blood drives, such as the rehearsal space at a local dance studio. It also packed the calendar with donation drives at other alternate locations and heavily promoted them throughout the community. “The need for blood did not slow down during the pandemic, so we didn’t either,” said Luckini. “Working with our neighbors and business partners, we found novel ways to help the Red Cross continue its lifesaving work.”

 

“The need for blood didn’t slow down during the pandemic, so we didn’t either. Working with our neighbors and business partners, we found novel ways to help the Red Cross continue its lifesaving work.”

– Katie Luckini, Commercial Lines Agent, Davis Insurance Group

Volunteers are the lifeblood 3
Katie Luckini, of the Davis Insurance Group, Jessica White, owner of Pizzaz Dance Academy, and Red Cross phlebotomists at a blood donor drive held at the studio in Morgantown, W.VA., in 2021.

A final wonderful gift

Jason Keeling, Executive Director of the Allegheny Highlands Chapter of the Red Cross of Central Appalachia, praised the agency’s dedication to service, no matter what. “The Davis team continues to show up for us when volunteers are needed more than ever,” said Keeling. “Even during these challenging times, they have organized blood drives and kept the community engaged and informed.”

 

One recent drive was a memorial for a local young man named Demetry who received a devastating leukemia diagnosis. Sadly, Demetry passed soon after his diagnosis. But in his final days he set an ambitious goal: he wanted ten donations to be collected for every blood product he used while in the hospital. He also encouraged the Davis team to use his illness as an opportunity to educate people about the need for diversity in the donor pool. This prompted a large and active online effort in the community to promote diversity initiatives.

 

“When a community suffers a loss, it looks for ways to act. By setting this blood drive in motion, Demetry gave his many loved ones a wonderful gift,” said Luckini. “I’m grateful to be a part of this event and to work at an agency that gives me the latitude to be so involved.”

 

“The Davis team continues to show up for us when volunteers are needed more than ever.”

– Jason Keeling, Executive Director, Allegheny Highlands Chapter of the Red Cross of Central Appalachia

Volunteers are the lifeblood 2
Davis Insurance Group commercial lines agent Katie Luckini and Jason Keeling, Executive Director of the local Red Cross tabling at the Morgantown Marathon.

Giving the gift of life

 

Blood drives can be expensive. On average, a drive costs $3,900, with sickle cell trait testing running $77 per blood donor. If awarded, the American Red Cross of Central Appalachia would use a $10,000 donation from Liberty Mutual and Safeco Insurance to cover the cost of two blood drives and trait testing for 29 donors.

 

Learn more about these Make More Happen award winners and help them win $5,000 by sharing this story using the buttons to the left. Visit American Red Cross of Central Appalachia, Allegheny Highlands Chapter and Davis Insurance Group to learn more.

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Sam
1 year ago

Go Katie, Go Katie!!!!

Sam
1 year ago

You’re the man Katie!!

Sam
1 year ago

way to go!!

Sam
1 year ago

AWSOME!

Sam
1 year ago

That’s why you are the BOM

Sam
1 year ago

Let’s do it again team!!!

Andrew Lohmann
1 year ago

Thanks so much for your contributions!

Roy Grimmett
1 year ago

Awesome to have such wonderful partners. We appreciate your support and continued efforts you make in the communities we all serve. Thank you Davis Insurance Group, Liberty Mutual and Safeco Insurance!!!

Brian Hancock
1 year ago

Awesome

Helen Parham
1 year ago

Thank you for your generosity, which will benefit many people.

Adrienne Biesemeyer
1 year ago

I live in Alderson WV but Red Cross is for everyone! Hope you reach 500 and beyond!

Ronnie J Williams
1 year ago

Fine work. Thank you.

Sarah Bielecki
1 year ago

Thank you Davis!!

Rachel Fetty
1 year ago

Yay Katie!!!

Paul Jefferson
1 year ago

Thanks to the Davis Insurance Group for helping the great Red Cross!!

paul helo
1 year ago

The Davis Ins. Agency could not pick a better agency to donate money that will do the most good.

Lynne Washbish
1 year ago

Amazing work!

Dianna
1 year ago

Thanks Davis Insurance Group, Liberty Mutual and Safeco Insurance your donation will help a multitude of our clients.

Kevin Allmashy
1 year ago

All the best!

Dave
1 year ago

Great Job Guy’s

Julie O’Neil
1 year ago

This is an awesome group!!

Patrick
1 year ago

THey are the best

Jeanne
1 year ago

Fantastic organization

Whitney Moore
1 year ago

Great work!

Erik
1 year ago

Thank you to Davis Insurance Group, Liberty Mutual and Safeco Insurance! Good Luck to all

Michael Falzone
1 year ago

Great!

Kristy Ferrone
1 year ago

good luck!

Jacqueline Ambrose
1 year ago

Thank you Davis Insurance for supporting Red Cross!

Michael Fallen
1 year ago

Great job

Janice Rosano
1 year ago

Great cause. Happy to vote!

Herb Lattimore
1 year ago

Thank you for this opportunity and service!

Sheila Dillow
1 year ago

Thank you!

Judy York
1 year ago

Thank you!

Adam McFarland
1 year ago

Go Red Cross!

Grace A McFarland
1 year ago

Thanks for all of your important work! Hope you get the additional $5000

Timothy R Barron
1 year ago

Thank you to Davis insurance group, liberty mutual and safeco insurance for all you do.

Jennifer Capps
1 year ago

What an awesome gift! THANK YOU!

Sherry Shuman
1 year ago

Katie and Davis make a difference…how many of us can say that!?

Amy Esterman
1 year ago

Amazing!

Janice Rosano
1 year ago

Great work by all involved!

Randy Rosano
1 year ago

Great work. Fantastic

John Kniesner
1 year ago

Thanks to Katie Luckini, Commercial Lines Agent, and the Davis Insurance Group. I am so glad that they have been able to help the American Red Cross blood drives, especially during these pandemic times.

Jackie
1 year ago

Excellent!!!

Janice Eddy
1 year ago

Thanks to the Davis team for helping the community.

Mary Elswick
1 year ago

This is exciting!

bob
1 year ago

heres your vote

StacySelf
1 year ago

Thank you

Matt Hooper
1 year ago

Great work Davis team!!!!!

Kelly Glass
1 year ago

This is great!

Kay
1 year ago

Love it!

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