$1 million donation will boost blood supplies
and help save lives by enabling the Red Cross to thank 200,000
blood donors with a $5 Amazon.com Gift Card
According to the American Red Cross, there is
currently a critical shortage of type O blood across the
country
All donors are encouraged to schedule an
appointment to donate blood by enabling the Red Cross Blood skill
for Alexa, using the Red Cross Blood Donor App or visiting
RedCrossBlood.org
Amazon (NASDAQ: AMZN) today announced a $1 million donation to
the American Red Cross to help increase blood donations and reduce
shortages. The $1 million donation will be in the form of
Amazon.com gift cards offered to those who come out to give blood
at critical times throughout the year to help meet patient needs.
The Red Cross responds to emergencies every day across the country,
whether it’s supporting a family after a natural disaster or
helping to provide critical blood products to a patient in
need.
Right now, there is a blood type O shortage, and donors of all
blood types who give blood with the Red Cross through June 10 can
receive a $5 Amazon.com Gift Card via email. Type O blood is the
most needed blood group by hospitals—and used in trauma
situations—but is often in short supply. According to the Red
Cross, about six units of type O blood are currently available for
every 100,000 people each day, but at least 14 units are
needed.
“Donating blood is a unique way to make a lifesaving
difference,” said Gail McGovern, President & CEO of the
American Red Cross. “The summer months are particularly challenging
for blood collection due to busy summer schedules, vacations and
fewer drives, but patient needs don’t take a break. Blood is
perishable and cannot be stockpiled in advance—it’s the blood
already on the shelves that helps in times of emergency. Thanks to
Amazon’s generous gift and continued support we are able to
encourage more people to help ensure blood is available whenever
and wherever it is needed.”
This June, Amazon is also partnering with the Red Cross in an
upcoming campaign by hosting 17 blood drives for its employees at
its Seattle headquarters and offices across the country. The
donated blood will help people in need, from children battling
cancer, accident victims rushing to emergency rooms, and new moms
facing complicated childbirths who need lifesaving blood
transfusions.
“Amazon is proud to once again work with the Red Cross in
support of their disaster relief efforts around the world,” said
Dave Clark, Amazon SVP, Worldwide Operations. “Donating blood,
particularly type O, is so critical to saving lives and we hope
these gift cards provide further incentive for everyone to get up,
get out, and give blood.”
Launched this spring, Amazon Alexa customers can now schedule a
blood donation appointment, find blood drives nearby and get
appointment notification reminders using the Red Cross Blood skill.
Donors can open the Red Cross Blood skill with a selection of
prompts such as, “Alexa, open Red Cross Blood Skill.” The Red Cross
Blood skill for Alexa is available to anyone with an Alexa-enabled
device such as Amazon Echo, Echo Dot, Echo Show or Echo Spot. It
can be enabled in the Alexa Skills Store through the Alexa app or
Amazon.com. Learn more about the Red Cross Blood skill on
RedCrossBlood.org.
The O shortage is critical because type O negative blood can be
transfused to any patient, so it’s often used in trauma situations
when hospital staff do not have time to determine a patient’s blood
type. Type O positive is the most transfused blood type and also
critical in trauma and other situations. Donors of all blood types
are encouraged to give now.
All those who come to give blood or platelets will receive a $5
Amazon.com Gift Card via email, through June 10. While type O is
critically needed, platelet and blood donors of all types are urged
to give now to help trauma patients and others who depend on
lifesaving blood products. For anyone who cannot donate blood but
still wishes to support The Red Cross’ life-saving efforts, visit
redcross.org to find out how to get involved.
This donation is part of Amazon’s commitment to “Right Now
Needs,” which includes increasing access to food, shelter, and
basic goods for children and their families, who suffer from
hunger, homelessness or disasters. Disaster Relief by Amazon
leverages Amazon’s vast operational excellence and worldwide
logistics network to provide fast and effective support to
worldwide relief operations fighting large-scale natural disasters.
Amazon has shipped truckloads of Amazon-donated items to
communities ravaged by hurricanes, sent solar powered lights to
people living without power after tsunamis, and enabled customers
to easily donate products and cash on Amazon.com. Amazon’s Disaster
Relief by Amazon team has previously worked with the Red Cross by
sending Prime Air planes packed with relief items to Puerto Rico
after Hurricane Maria, supported Red Cross call centers, launched
an Alexa donation skill, and more.
About The American Red Cross
The American Red Cross shelters, feeds and provides emotional
support to victims of disasters; supplies about 40 percent of the
nation's blood; teaches skills that save lives; provides
international humanitarian aid; and supports military members and
their families. The Red Cross is a not-for-profit organization that
depends on volunteers and the generosity of the American public to
perform its mission. For more information, please
visit redcross.org or cruzrojaamericana.org, or visit us
on Twitter at @RedCross.
About Amazon in the Community
Amazon is committed to helping all children and young adults,
especially those from underrepresented and underserved communities,
have the resources and skills they need to build their best future.
Amazon focuses on building long-term, innovative, and high impact
programs that leverage Amazon’s unique assets and culture.
Initiatives include Amazon Future Engineer, designed to inspire and
excite 10 million children and young adults from underrepresented
communities each year to pursue an education in computer science,
as well as programs that support immediate needs, including
fighting childhood hunger by providing access to millions of
breakfasts through its nationwide Rise and Smile program,
addressing family homelessness through donations and housing a
homeless shelter in its Seattle headquarters, and global relief
efforts for people in need following natural disasters.
About Amazon
Amazon is guided by four principles: customer obsession rather
than competitor focus, passion for invention, commitment to
operational excellence, and long-term thinking. Customer reviews,
1-Click shopping, personalized recommendations, Prime, Fulfillment
by Amazon, AWS, Kindle Direct Publishing, Kindle, Fire tablets,
Fire TV, Amazon Echo, and Alexa are some of the products and
services pioneered by Amazon. For more information, visit
amazon.com/about and follow @AmazonNews.
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