Media Inquiries
Our Community Relations staff is available 24 hours a day to respond to media inquiries. Contact Leslie Gamble, Community Relations Director, at 405-278-3119 or .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) with questions or to schedule an interview.
Blood Drives Support Hospitals
May 1, 2013 — Texas Blood Institute (TBI) encourages blood donors’ support so those in area hospitals won’t have to be concerned about the availability of blood.
Donors with Texas Blood Institute provide blood needed by patients in these hospitals - Kell West Regional Hospital, Electra Memorial Hospital, United Regional, Clay County Memorial Hospital, Chillicothe Hospital, Wilbarger General Hospital, Hardeman County Memorial Hospital, and Seymour Hospital.
Each donor giving in May will receive a TBI insulated lunch tote, free health screenings and Donor Reward Points. Donors may choose to forgo the tote to support the Global Blood Fund (GBF). Funds so designated will then be contributed to GBF to provide supplies to blood centers in the world’s poorest countries.
Since there is no substitute for human blood, supplies must constantly be renewed. Texas Blood Institute encourages anyone who is 16 and older* to donate and save a life this spring.
Although all blood types are needed, those with O-negative type blood are especially encouraged to donate. According to AABB (formerly American Association of Blood Banks), those with O-negative blood type make up only nine percent of the national population; however, O-negative blood can be used by anyone in urgent need.
Schedule your life-saving donation, Today!
Save A Life In April. Donate Blood.
April 1, 2013- Texas Blood Institute invites all local area residents to donate blood this April. By donating blood, donors can feel good about helping to save someone else’s life. As an added bonus, all blood donors will receive a TBI insulated lunch tote, free health screenings and Donor Reward Points. However, if blood donors choose to forgo the donor appreciation item, funds designated for this item will be directed to our partnering organization, Global Blood Fund (GBF). Global Blood Fund and Texas Blood Institute both share a common goal, to make blood available to those in need.
Of those eligible to donate blood in the U.S., only about ten percent actually do, despite the quick and beneficial donation process. Giving blood only takes about an hour and one single donation can save up to three different lives. All healthy adults, 16 years and older* are encouraged to donate blood. Donations can be made every 56 days.
One in every seven people entering a hospital will need blood and every two seconds someone is in need of blood. Since there is no substitute for human blood, supplies must constantly be renewed.
* 16 year olds must weigh at least 125 and provide signed parental permission, 17 year olds must weigh at least 125 pounds, 18+ year olds must weigh at least 110 pounds.
Schedule an appointment at a donor center or mobile drive near your.
FEELING WELL. GIVE BLOOD.
February 1, 2013 - The surge in the flu and other common winter illnesses has Texas Blood Institute (TBI) ready for ‘double trouble’. “If you’re well, you are needed to stand in the gap for those who aren’t,” said John Armitage, M.D., president and CEO.
“With more hospitalized, the need for blood often increases,” said Armitage. “At the same time, some regular blood donors are coming down with viruses or the flu and temporarily can’t give. It can be a real challenge.”
Anyone, who is 16 years and older * and healthy, can usually donate. Each blood donor at this month will receive a TBI BALL CAP, free health screenings and Donor Rewards points.
Blood donors can choose to forgo the donor appreciation items. Then, funds designated for these items will be directed to Global Blood Fund (GBF), a charity whose mission is to make safe blood available in the world’s poorest countries.
Although all blood types are needed to maintain Texas Blood Institute’s typical three-day supply, those with O-negative type blood are especially encouraged to donate. According to the American Association of Blood Banks, those with O-negative blood type make up only nine percent of the national population. However, O-negative blood can be used by anyone in an emergency situation, regardless of their type.
Donors with Texas Blood Institute provide every drop of blood needed by patients in all eight hospitals in the Texoma region. Appointments to donate are not required but are available.
* 16 year olds must weigh at least 125 and provide signed parental permission, 17 year olds must weigh at least 125 pounds, 18+ year olds must weigh at least 110 pounds.
Schedule your life-saving donation, Now!
Chief Information Officer Named
January 24, 2013 ─ J.P. Potter has joined Texas Blood Institute (TBI) as its Chief Information Officer. Potter leads the information technology (IT) functions across all locations served in Oklahoma, north central Texas and western Arkansas. 
Potter joins the executive team after serving five years in IT leadership capacity with Chesapeake Energy in Oklahoma City. His 33-year career has included a broad range of IT roles in industries including computer services, electric utility, retail, consulting and oil and gas.
He earned degrees in both Business Administration and Computer Science at Drury University.
Start Off The New Year By Saving Lives
January 1, 2013 - Blood donors will receive a free ball cap, health screenings and Donor Rewards points, redeemable for merchandise in Texas Blood Institute’s (TBI) online store when they donate blood this month.
If donors prefer, they can forgo the ball cap to support the Global Blood Fund. TBI will redirect funds for the ball caps to this charity assisting blood centers in developing countries.
“With the start of a new year and unanticipated weather, blood donations typically decline in the winter months,” said John Armitage, Texas Blood Institute president and CEO. “But the need for blood is constant, and patients in our community count on volunteer donors to fulfill that need.”
Texas Blood Institute is a non-profit, regional blood center. Donors with TBI provide every drop of blood needed by patients in eight hospitals in Baylor, Clay, Hardeman, Wichita and Wilbarger counties.
* 16 year olds must weigh at least 125 and provide signed parental permission, 17 year olds must weigh at least 125 pounds, 18+ year olds must weigh at least 110 pounds.
Schedule your life-saving donation, TODAY!
Texas Blood Institute Debuts New Bloodmobile
December 12, 2012 - Texas Blood Institute’s (TBI) new bloodmobile made its debut at TBI’s Wichita Falls donor center this afternoon. The state-of-the-art coach will begin traveling many miles weekly to make it convenient for people across the area to give blood.
The following provided major contributions:
The Priddy Foundation
James N. McCoy Foundation
J.S. Bridwell Foundation
Bryant Edwards Foundation, Inc.
Fain Foundation
Texas Blood Institute exclusively provides every drop of blood needed by patients in the eight Texas medical facilities in Hardeman, Wilbarger, Foard, Baylor, Wichita, Archer and Clay counties.
Texas Blood Institute and Operation Santa Claus Partner to Double Holiday Giving
December 4, 2012 - Texas Blood Institute (TBI) will resemble the North Pole during December. In addition to being our community blood center, it will also be a donation drop off site for Operation Santa Claus. The partnership between the two community groups makes it easy for people to have a big impact locally.
Patients in all area hospitals can count on TBI donors for the life-saving gift of blood. And, children in need can experience holiday joy as they receive toys donated to the Operation Santa Claus program.
Texas Blood Institute is just off Highway 277/82, next to Lowe’s. The donor center, 3709 Gregory St., Suite 109, is open Tuesday through Thursday from 8:30 a.m. to 6 p.m., Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Saturday from 8 a.m. to noon.
The opportunity to donate toys is open to all in the community until December 21, whether those giving are blood donors or not.
Most people 16 years and older* and in good health can donate blood. Each blood donor will receive a ball cap. Health screenings and Donor Rewards Points, redeemable at TBI’s online store, are also rewards for blood donors.
Texas Blood Institute is a non-profit, regional blood center. Its donors provide every drop of blood needed by patients in all hospitals in Wichita, Clay, Hardeman, Foard, Archer, Baylor and Wilbarger counties.
* 16 year olds must weigh at least 125 and provide signed parental permission, 17 year olds must weigh at least 125 pounds, 18+ year olds must weigh at least 110 pounds.
Schedule your life-saving donation!
Blood Donors ‘Double’ Giving for Local Children
December 1, 2012 - Texas Blood Institute (TBI) is contributing $5,000 to Children’s Miracle Network at United Regional on behalf of its blood donors. Between May and October, donors were offered the chance to forgo recognition T-shirts, so that TBI could support the local children’s medical charity with those funds.
Through the gift of blood and support of pediatric research and treatment initiatives at United Regional, donors are able to ‘doubly give’ for local children battling life-threatening conditions.
“Families of sick children in our area rely on Texas Blood Institute donors any time life-saving blood is needed,” said Daren Coats, executive director. “With this gift, those blood donors will also improve children’s medical care through Children’s Miracle Network at United Regional.”
Children’s Miracle Network specialist Suzanne Stone added, “We were honored to partner with Texas Blood Institute for this six-month campaign. We value the opportunity to work with an organization that already plays a vital role in the healthcare of the children whom we serve.”
Every two seconds someone needs blood. Texas Blood Institute provides every drop of blood needed by patients in the eight hospitals in north central Texas. People 16 and older, who are generally in good health, can typically give blood. Yet, of those eligible to donate, less than 10 percent give each year.
TBI’s donor center is located at 3709 Gregory St., Suite 109, near Lowe’s. It is open Tuesdays through Thursdays, 8:30 a.m. to 6 p.m., Fridays, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Saturday, 8 a.m. to noon. Convenient, mobile blood drives are also held each week in schools, businesses and communities across the area. Donation usually takes about an hour.
Schedule your life-saving donation, today!
Make Blood Donation a Priority This Holiday Season.
December 1, 2012 ─ Area residents are encouraged to get in the giving spirit by donating life-saving blood. Each donor will receive a ball cap, health screenings and Donor Rewards points, redeemable for items in TBI’s online store. Any donor who wishes to support the Global Blood Fund can forgo the ball cap. In turn, Texas Blood Institute will make a monetary contribution of similar value to the Global Blood Fund. It’s a chance to ‘doubly give’ by saving a life locally, and making safe blood available in the world’s poorest countries.
“We’re blessed to be surrounded by giving people who respond when they know of a need,” said John Armitage, M.D., president and CEO of Texas Blood Institute. “The gift of blood is a life-saving one. It’s difficult to think of anything more important that we personally can do.”
Because there is no substitute for blood, the supply must constantly be renewed. Although all blood types are needed, those with O-negative type blood are especially encouraged to donate. According to the American Association of Blood Banks (AABB), those with O-negative blood type make up only nine percent of the national population. However, O-negative blood can be used by in any emergency situation when a patient’s blood type has not yet been identified.
Anyone, 16 years or older*, can typically donate blood. Blood can be given every 56 days.
*16 year olds must weigh at least 125 and provide signed parental permission, 17 year olds must weigh at least 125 pounds, 18+ year olds must weigh at least 110 pounds.
Find a Texas Blood Institute (TBI) blood drive near you, today!
