Sunmark’s Summer of Kindness Continues with Red Cross Partnership

The Sunmark Charitable Community Foundation completed their eighth Summer of Kindness project with a collaboration between Sunmark Credit Union and the Red Cross of Northeastern NY.

Over 35 Sunmark employees donated blood on Wednesday, August 20 during a blood drive held at Sunmark Credit Union headquarters in Latham, NY. A long-term partner of Sunmark Credit Union and the Sunmark Foundation, the local Red Cross chapter serves the communities of Albany, Schenectady, Rensselaer, Saratoga, Warren, Washington, Hamilton, Fulton, Montgomery, Schoharie, Clinton, Franklin and Essex counties.

Of the 35 donors, 15 were donating blood for the first time and several have been donating for at least a decade. “I have been donating blood for more than 15 years and have donated over four gallons” stated Dawn Donovan, VP of Operations at the credit union. She continued, “Not only is my blood type rare and in high-demand, but because my red blood cells are smaller, my blood can be given to babies.”

“Blood donors are very important to me and my family,” stated Kate Hatt, Member Relationship Representative II at Sunmark in Glenville, “My father relied on blood transfusions to keep him alive before he lost his battle with myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS). Without these donations, we would not have gotten all the time with him that we did. Many people don’t realize that the impact of a blood donation is wide-spread and isn’t just for blood loss during an accident.”

In addition to helping people like Kate’s father, blood donations are also used to treat people who have suffered trauma, burns, or are battling illnesses such as sickle cell, cancer, and other chronic diseases. To learn more about the blood donation journey or how you can help, visit the Red Cross online at www.redcross.org.

This event marked the eighth project in the Sunmark Charitable Community Foundation’s Summer of Kindness for 2024. The Foundation aims to complete a total of ten projects in honor of their tenth anniversary this year. Kindness Crew members volunteered to help register blood donors, provide comfort, and thank donors with a sweet treat from Nothing Bundt Cakes. To learn more about Sunmark’s Summer of Kindness and previously completed Kindness Projects, visit sunmark.org/kindness.