by Cheryl Regan
She could have spent the day shut in her office in a downtown Los Angeles high rise. But when Nohemi Garcia heard that City of Hope’s bloodmobile would be hosting a blood drive nearby, she felt called to donate and make a difference.  Nohemi Garcia donates blood at City of Hope’s bloodmobile near the Aon Center in Los Angeles. (Photo by Thomas Brown) |
“I try to donate as much as possible; I like to give blood every two to three months,” Garcia said. “Giving blood is a great thing to do. People shouldn’t be nervous to donate.”
Garcia, an employee at Marsh Insurance, was among the many volunteers who gave blood Aug. 25 as part of a drive organized by City of Hope’s National Insurance Industry Council (NIIC). Spearheaded by council member Lynda Colucci of UAIS Insurance Services LLC, a member of the Diamond State Group, this was only the second time City of Hope’s new bloodmobile was used in an industry-related drive; the first such drive took place in late July at Farmers Insurance’s offices in Los Angeles.
The Aug. 25 drive was a part of the NIIC’s Spirit of Life® effort, which will honor Bob Woudstra, chief executive officer of Farmers, in November. Since its founding in 1978, the NIIC has raised nearly $19 million for City of Hope’s research, treatment and education programs.
City of Hope patients depend on donors like Garcia, who not only has donated repeatedly to City of Hope in the past, but also encourages her fellow co-workers to give blood. All blood and blood products donated at City of Hope or through its bloodmobile go to patients with cancer and other serious diseases. To learn more about organizing a blood drive, visit www.cityofhope.org/blooddonorcenter and click on “Blood Drives.”
