Memorial Blood Centers Launches New Online Resource

ST. PAUL, Minn., Aug. 25 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- With exciting new educational resources, facts and figures, and fresh tools to engage the public in the blood donation process, Memorial Blood Centers today announced the official launch of its fully redesigned website at www.MBC.org.  

"As we continually strive to be the community resource our constituents look to for the information, blood products, testing, and medical support services they need to save and sustain lives in our community, we are pleased to announce the launch of our dynamic new website that moves us significantly closer to realizing our goal," Wendy Capetz, Director, Marketing and Development at Memorial Blood Centers said.  

Thanks, in part, to a recent grant from the ADC Foundation, plus previous financial gifts from Hubbard Broadcasting and Thrivent Financial, the www.MBC.org website now incorporates interactive elements designed to communicate more effectively with multiple generations of users while also meeting the needs of a diverse audience of blood donors, blood drive sponsors, volunteers, financial contributors, and hospital and lab partners.

"In our web-connected world, it is imperative that Memorial Blood Centers maximize the use of technology to extend our life-saving mission," Capetz added. "This extensive redesign of our website is part of ongoing initiatives that we are taking to make it increasingly easier and more convenient to access our products and services, and to reach out to the next generation of volunteer blood donors — to help young people begin to build a life-long dedication to giving the gift of life through blood donation."

Among the new features, content, and capabilities, Memorial Blood Centers' website now includes:  

• A variety of enhancements to such important functions as hosting a blood drive and scheduling an appointment to donate.
• New information on available blood products and components, testing services, medical support, and research products.  
• A wealth of information about blood — what it is, what it does, and why it matters — a comprehensive glossary of terms, and an entire section filled with facts and Q&As about the blood donation process.  
• The ability for visitors to Spread the Word about Memorial Blood Centers' life-saving mission with downloadable banner ads that can be added to their websites.
• Dozens of short videos and testimonials that feature stories of recipients and donors whose lives have been forever changed as a result of blood donation.
• A Media Room that offers important facts and history about the organization, recent news and announcements, donor and recipient stories, a photo gallery, logos and graphics.
• RSS feeds are available for MBC news articles and events.

Hospital customers ordering online will continue to have direct access to placing orders in a safe and secure environment.  

A special section focused specifically on educating young people and first time donors includes: a unique set of tools, features, and content to encourage high school and college students to learn about blood donation, get involved in organizing a blood drive at their school, share their donor or recipient stories, and spread the word about the importance of giving blood to others through social media.  

ABO Joe, Memorial Blood Centers' mascot who is extremely popular with high school students, will be entertaining readers with posts to his blog. Blood drive results in the friendly competition between Metro and Northland high schools will be posted online for participants to track the progress of their schools' drives in saving lives. And everyone can follow Memorial Blood Centers' events on a variety of social media: YouTube, Facebook, and Twitter. For more information, visit www.MBC.org.

About Memorial Blood Centers

Memorial Blood Centers has been saving lives in the community for over 60 years as an independent, nonprofit organization supplying life-saving blood to over 30 hospital partners throughout Minnesota and northwestern Wisconsin. Operating 11 donor centers and conducting hundreds of blood drives each month, Memorial Blood Centers also is a national leader in transfusion medicine, providing expert technical services to clients across the U.S. For more information call 888-GIVE-BLD or visit www.MBC.org.

SOURCE Memorial Blood Centers