(August 28, 2006, ATLANTA) – Julie Phillips of Marietta, Georgia, began donating blood when she was in high school. Almost fifteen years later she’s still helping save lives by giving blood, which paid off in a big way for this Atlanta Braves’ fan. Phillips recently won the grand prize for the Red Cross’ Atlanta Braves All-American Blood Drive: four tickets to an Atlanta Braves game plus a batting practice field visit.
The promotion with the Atlanta Braves was held over the 4th of July weekend to help combat the summer blood shortage. 
As Phillips had gotten off her regular blood donation schedule, she thought that the 4th of July weekend was the perfect time to get back on track. Town Center at Cobb is a convenient location for her, so she decided to go ahead and donate. According to Phillips, giving blood is not difficult. “It doesn’t take a lot of time,” said Phillips. “It helps so many people. I would hope that someone would be there to help me if I needed it.”
Blood is needed by about four million people in the United States each year, and the overwhelming majority would die without it. There is no substitute for blood and volunteer donors are the only source. Every day, accident victims as well as patients with cancer, blood disorders, sickle cell anemia and other illnesses must receive life-saving transfusions.
Blood and platelet donors must be at least 17 years old and weigh no less than 110 pounds. It is safe to give blood every 56 days and platelets every two weeks. To learn more about blood donation or to make an appointment to give, please call 1-800-GIVE-LIFE (448-3543) or log on to www.givebloodredcross.org.
