It has been the tradition of the UP Open University (UPOU) to hold a blood donation drive every April. This 2019, the UPOU Blood Donation Drive was held on 10 April at the UPOU Oblation Hall in Los Banos, Laguna.
Of the 78 volunteers, there were 45 successful blood donors. Despite a decrease in the number of successful donors compared to previous years, most of the donors this time were employees of the university. This somehow reflects the stakeholders’ continuous support for extension work and public service initiated by UPOU.
The initiative is spearheaded by the UPOU Faculty of Information and Communication Studies (FICS), in cooperation with the Office of the Vice Chancellor for Finance and Administration (OVCFA). Since 2012, this public service has been giving life and hope to not just friends and families of UPOU employees, but also to other Filipinos in need of the precious liquid.
In 2018, the the Philippine Red Cross conferred to UPOU the Diploma of Service Award for its continuous Blood Donation Drive program.
The seventh UPOU Blood Donation Drive was conducted in partnership with the Philippine Red Cross. The activity was made possible with the support from the following sponsors and partners: 4th Regional Community Defense Group-Army Reserve Command; Christian Reformed Church; Gospel Fundamental Baptist Church; Kappa Epsilon Fraternity; Lakas Angkan Ministries Inc.; MAKBOYS Adventure Team; Motorcycle Community Organization for Peace and Security; Great Praetorian Riders Society; Philippine Rice Research Institute; Romeo M. Ramirez Transport Services; UPLB College of Development Communication; UPLB Credit and Development Cooperative; UP Community Broadcasters’ Society, Inc.; UP Rural High School; and UP Sibol. (YMLleva and ACLlamas)
