A partnership between the Community Blood Center and students in the Public Relations Techniques course is bringing a blood drive to the UW Oshkosh campus, giving students the opportunity to make a difference.

The Public Relations Techniques course is a semester-long course that focuses on researching, developing and executing a campaign from start to finish by working with a real-world client.

The CBC is a non-profit organization, opened in 1955, whose work helps bring blood to 17 different hospitals in Wisconsin and Upper Michigan and raises awareness about the importance of donating blood.
The CBC provides hospitals with red blood cells, platelets and plasma through their local drives and donation center in the Fox Valley area.
UWO public relations student Elizabeth Ritschard said a major reason for the event is to spread awareness about why donating blood is vital.
“This blood drive event is important because it helps to create a steady blood supply for the 17 hospitals that receive the Community Blood Center’s donations,” Ritschard said. “By this event being on campus, it is spreading awareness of the importance of blood donation.”

According to professor Kristine Nicolini, who teaches the course, this partnership came to fruition when the CBC approached her regarding a potential partnership at the end of the spring semester.

“After the initial meeting, we both realized that this opportunity would be perfect for a public relations class project,” Nicolini said.

Nicolini said this mutually beneficial relationship would bode especially well for the students, as they are the target audience of the CBC’s initiatives.

“The CBC was hoping to raise awareness amongst UWO students about the importance of donating blood,” Nicolini said. “My students were the perfect group to help facilitate that given their public relations knowledge and that they are part of the target audience.”

According to William Waschow, a PR student in the course, a lot of work has gone into this campaign to make sure the client’s expectations are met.

“We’ve done a lot of research throughout the semester,” Waschow said. “Meeting with the client to set objectives and goals for ourselves along with the client’s input.”

While there may be a good amount of work that goes into it, the whole experience is rewarding, Waschow said.

“There’s just something about it where you can create and develop content on your own,” Waschow said. “To me, it’s fun work.”

According to Nicolini, there will be more to do at the event than just give blood.

“We are planning some really fun activities and surprise guests for our donors,” Nicolini said.

The blood drive will take place on Nov. 16 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. in front of Sage Hall and will feature a “bloodmobile,” Waschow said.

“They will be bringing the bloodmobile here,” Waschow said. “It’s just a big fancy truck with beds, TVs and nice nurses.”

For those interested, getting involved is easy. By going to www.save3lives.org, students can reserve a time slot for their donations. Otherwise walk-ins are welcomed and encouraged.