By R.V. Baugus
Much great work is going on around the country as our member venues continue responding in major ways to do their part during the COVID-19 pandemic. Following the call to share stories that we in turn can pass along to IAVM members, many have taken us up on the offer. With the pandemic ongoing and very fluid, we extend the invitation to send your venue stories along with high res (at least 2MB) photos so we can spotlight your worthy work. Below are two stories shared from the great state of California.
I wanted to take a moment to report that the blood drive we hosted in Zellerbach A yesterday was a grand success! Senator Scott 
Wiener, who reached out to us, was hugely appreciative, as was the Red Cross. Our Mayor, London Breed, as well as several supervisors, spoke and gave blood, and also relayed their gratitude for the event. The Red Cross signed up 50 donors, 36 of which passed screening to donate, which they reported was a typical ratio. Most donors donated the standard pint, however, those who were willing, and who met the health requirements, were able to do a red-box donation, which amazingly can take two pints or more, by simultaneously replacing lost blood volume with sterile saline. Very high tech!
In all cases, a single pint donation is usually split into three parts – part left as whole blood, part as plasma only, and part as platelets only. Each part can save a different person, so our collection will be dispatched to at least 108 different individuals in need. Amazing. I would like to extend my thanks to everyone on our staff who helped in both big and small ways. We are an amazing team, and yesterday proved that. Thank you all. I also want to give a shout-out to the San Francisco Symphony, who graciously loaned us their tables, chairs, pipe & drape, and other equipment which helped make this happen. We have another blood drive scheduled for April 30, and I am hoping to possibly schedule more between now and then.
— Rob Levin, Booking Manager, San Francisco War Memorial and Performing Arts Center
Over the April 4-5 weekend, the Pasadena (CA) Center Operating Company (PCOC) along with Centerplate, the exclusive food and beverage provider for the Pasadena Convention Center and Pasadena Civic Auditorium, prepared, delivered, and distributed 3,100 healthy meals for students of Pasadena Unified School District. The call to action to support local schools and the community during the coronavirus (COVID-19) will continue over the next two weekends – April 11-12 and 18-19 – throughout the Pasadena area at seven distribution sites. The PCOC has 20 staff members who have volunteered to transport, set up and distribute the meals each Saturday and Sunday. The healthy meals include a sandwich, fruit, bag of cookies and the option of milk or juice.
“The PCOC is happy to help in this time of crisis,” said Michael Ross, CEO of the PCOC. “It has been a pleasure to work with the City of Pasadena and our partners at Centerplate to coordinate and set the program in motion quickly. I am most proud of the number of PCOC staff that have stepped up to volunteer as this time of need.”
Pictured from left: Michael Ross, CEO of Pasadena Center Operating Company; Jennifer Dominguez; Margie Christ, HR Director of PCOC; Layla Tulloch; Naz Sabripour, Executive Director of the Pasadena Convention Center; Heather Peron; Tyron Hampton, City of Pasadena Vice Mayor and PCOC Board Chair; Jeanne Goldschmidt, Executive Director of the Pasadena Convention & Visitors Bureau.
— Crystal Williams, Senior Manager, Marketing & Communications, Pasadena Convention & Visitors Bureau | Convention Center | Civic Auditorium | Ice Skating Center
