News Release

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 14, 2005

Blood Collection Organizations and Advocacy Groups Partner
with America Online to Raise Awareness About Blood Donation
Web Site Initiative Launches on World Blood Donor Day

Washington, D.C. In celebration of World Blood Donor Day, the nations leading blood collection organizations and advocacy groups have joined with America Online (AOL) to raise awareness about the critical need for blood donations. AABB, Americas Blood Centers, the American Red Cross and the Give Life Foundation are partnering with AOL to launch an online public awareness initiative aimed at encouraging young people in America to donate blood.

Every two seconds someone in America needs blood, and to meet this ongoing need, it is essential to foster a new generation of lifelong donors, said Karen Shoos Lipton, AABBs chief executive officer. The generous, corporate philanthropic support of AOL will help to raise blood donation awareness, thereby helping to ensure that our nation has a safe and adequate blood supply for years to come.

This unique Web-based initiative has the potential to reach millions of online consumers, providing them with information about blood, donation opportunities and information on how individuals can help to make a difference in their community. This information will be promoted for three weeks on AOL CityGuide, the leading local entertainment guide online, including local sites covering more than 300 U.S. cities.

America Online is proud to join with the nation's leading blood collection organizations and advocacy groups to raise awareness around the need for blood donors, said Rich D'Amato, America Online's vice president for community investment. This is an issue that, at some time or another, touches the life of nearly every person in America. We hope that by contributing AOL's ability to reach millions of people especially young people we will help make blood donation a lifelong part of each American's personal commitment to give back to and serve their community.

This new awareness initiative coincides with the June 14 celebration of World Blood Donor Day, which recognizes voluntary, unpaid blood donors worldwide for their lifesaving contributions. The date of June 14 also marks the birthday of Karl Landsteiner, the Nobel Prize winner who created the ABO blood group system.

The Give Life Foundation was proud to play an important role in identifying the partnership opportunities between AOL and the blood community, said Bart S. Fisher, Give Life Foundations chairman. AOLs extensive Web-based presence will make it easier for its young demographic following to make a significant difference in their cities by donating blood.

To learn more about blood donation, visit AOL Keyword: Blood Saves or aolcityguide.com.

For more information on the participating groups, visit:
America Online: www.aol.com 
AABB: www.aabb.org
Americas Blood Centers: www.americasblood.org
American Red Cross: www.givelife.org 
Give Life Foundation: www.give-life.org

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