The Blood Donor Center kicked off its annual Employee Donor Loyalty Program by honoring last year’s participants during a recent luncheon and prize drawing.

Nearly 250 employee blood and platelet donors filled Cooper Auditorium where they feasted on In N Out burgers and participated in a drawing for prizes ranging from a high-definition TV to an iPod Touch.

Anita Robinette, left, set a City of Hope record for platelet donations. (Photo by p.cunningham)

Many attendees at the February event re-enrolled for the loyalty program, now in its seventh year.

“I thank you so much for what you do,” said Michael A. Friedman, M.D., president and chief executive officer, addressing program participants. “It means a great deal to the institution. It is one of the most generous gifts I can think of.”

Sean Wang, M.D., M.P.H., medical director of the Michael Amini Transfusion Medicine Center, recognized the top three employee donors for the 2011-12 program: Anita Robinette with 25 donations, Barbara Dear with 21 donations and Michael Rorman with 19 donations.

Employees can earn up to eight “loyalty hours” of time off work by donating blood or platelets five times during the program year. Other perks include an invitation to the annual luncheon, entries in monthly drawings and loyalty gifts. Gifts offered for the 2012-13 program include a pocket multifunctional tool, business card holder, desktop cell phone holder and certificates for movie tickets, In N Out Burgers, ice cream and gasoline.

Volunteers, vendors, students, per-diem staff and Sodexo employees are eligible to participate in the program, as well. Additionally, City of Hope employees who are unable to donate can still participate in the loyalty program and earn rewards by designating a friend or family member to donate on their behalf.

The loyalty program collected 1,462 donations last year, and boosted participant numbers when 154 new employees came on board. Recruitment and blood drive coordinator Brenda Lotero, who encourages employees to re-enroll in the program each year, feels confident about meeting the program’s new goal of collecting 1,700 units for the year — especially if program participants enlist co-workers.

“My challenge to the employees this year is to recruit at least one employee who is not currently donating,” said Lotero. “Then ask the new donors to do the same.”

The next Employee Donor Loyalty Program blood drive is scheduled for May 16. New this year, blood donors can now log in to www.idonateblood4hope.org to set their own appointments online.

For more information about the loyalty program or upcoming blood drives, please contact Lotero at ext. 68384 or blotero@coh.org, or visit www.coh.org/employee-donor-loyalty-program.