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For this week's, program we had Leticia Mondragon, Donor Recruiter and Public Relations
officer for the Coastal Bend Blood Center. Mondragon was introduced by Linnae Luehrs.
Mondragon, who informed us that she has been with the Coastal Bend Blood Center for the
past 16 years, started her presentation by reminding us that January was Blood Donor month.
Working with the Blood Center she said, is very rewarding, yet very challenging. To meet its
goals, the Blood center needed 150 donors on a daily basis, and Mondragon has been instrumental
in developing programs to meet this need.
(Leticia Mondragon pictured below.
Picture courtesy: Gary Blum DDS, MS)
Leticia Mondragon stated that most people do not think of giving blood until they
are affected personally, she said this includes herself. The importance of the
contributions of the Blood Center "hit home" when her 78 year old mother went into
emergency surgery. Mondragon stated that her mother held the role of both mother
and father to her, given that she had lost her father at a much earlier time in her life.
Because of the efforts of the Blood Center, her mother is still alive.
Another instance that illustrates this point she said, the Blood Center had over $3000
donors after 9/11. Only 174 of these donors have been back to donate blood.
The Coastal Bend Blood center sends out six blood mobiles everyday (seven days a week).
High School students make up the highest percentage of blood donors. As a result, the
Blood center has a program where they give High School seniors who have donated blood
three times in the year a red cord to wear for graduation.
Other high donor venues include churches and court houses.
Today the Coastal Bend Blood Center can accept blood from a wider variety of donors
Mondragon said, Diabetics can now donate, even those that are dependent on insulin.
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