KETTERING, Ohio – Kettering crosstown rivals Fairmont and Alter High Schools clashed on the Trent Arena court Feb. 6 then gave unified support for saving the lives of people and pets with the ninth annual “Unity in the Community Award” halftime presentation.
Fairmont and Alter partner with Solvita Blood Center and Universal 1 Credit Union by hosting fall blood drives then alternately choosing a charity to receive the $1,000 award sponsored by Universal 1.
Fairmont was the home team and named this year’s recipient, Robyn’s Nest Inc., a non-profit small animal rescue and adoption organization in Miamisburg. Fairmont United Student Body and Alter Cure Club members presented the check to Robyn McGeorge, executive director of Robyn’s Nest and a Fairmont graduate.
“We are looking to buy a building and move to a larger location this year,” Robyn said about utilizing the Unity award. “Our goal is $200,000 and we've got $83,000 so far.”
“The last two years have been the toughest in animal rescue we've known,” she said. “The dog population nationwide is sky high. Adoptions are down. If people went to shelters instead of breeders, we wouldn't have a problem. And there is the abandonment. People are not keeping their pets for life.”
“I love the cause and we’re very much in support of helping anybody that needs it,” said Fairmont USB member Tres Oakley. “They’re awesome and we like giving back when we can,” said USB Class President Bella Deppen.
The Fairmont and Alter blood drives continue to build young “Donors for Life.” The Firebirds’ Nov. 10, 2023 blood drive was the biggest high school blood drive of the fall semester with 164 donors, including 130 donations and 69 first time donors.
Alter’s Nov. 13, 2023 Unity blood drive totaled 35 donors, 30 donations and 13 first time donors. The schools combined for 199 donors, 160 donations and 82 first time donors.
Universal 1’s Rhonda Sloan presented the Unity Award check to Robyn with help from Fairmont USB members Bella Deppen, Lucy Bruzzese, Sydney Bales, Elena Alverez, Emma Becker, and Tres Oakley; Fairmont High blood drive coordinator Corey Miller; Alter Cure Club members Brynn Steward and Kyri Brose; and Solvita’s Donna Teuscher.
Schedule an appointment to donate with Solvita (formerly Community Blood Center) on the Donor Time app, by calling (937) 461-3220, or at www.donortime.com.
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Blood donation requirements: Donors are required to provide a photo ID that includes their full name. Past Solvita donors are also asked to bring their Solvita donor ID card. Donors must be at least 17 years of age (16 years old with parental consent: form available at www.solvita.org or at the Dayton Donation Center and mobile blood drive locations), weigh a minimum of 110 pounds (you may have to weigh more depending on your height), and be in good physical health. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) changes blood donor eligibility guidelines periodically. Individuals with eligibility questions can email canidonate@solvita.org or call (937) 461-3220. Make an appointment at www.DonorTime.com.
Solvita is an independent, not-for-profit organization with the mission of taking life further and making a lasting impact on the world by providing lifesaving and life-enhancing blood products and tissue grafts.
As a regional blood center headquartered in Dayton, Ohio Solvita collects, processes, and provides blood products to partner hospitals and health centers within our 18-county service area of western Ohio and eastern Indiana and to select hospitals and blood centers outside the region.
As a global tissue center Solvita provides services to donor families, medical communities, recipients, OPOs, and community partners through recovery, processing, and distribution of tissue grafts. We are a national tissue network with locations in Dayton, Ohio (Corporate Office); Fort Worth, Texas; Memphis, Tennessee; Portland and Medford, Oregon; Toledo, Ohio; and Boise, Idaho. For more information visit www.Solvita.org.
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