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Banquet 1999 The last Blood Donor Recognition Banquet of the century was held on April 14th at the Holiday Inn in Urbana. Appropriately, the theme of this year's event was blood banking in the 20th century. The annual event is the blood center's opportunity to recognize donors who achieved specific donation milestones during the past year, and pay tribute to individuals and blood drive sponsors who have done an outstanding job of supporting the community's blood program. Almost 400 people attended the event, enjoying a nice meal and beautiful music performed by the String Society Artists. Television coverage of the banquet by WCIA Channel 3 added some excitement; platelet donor Paul Gulliford was featured in the news piece that was aired by the station. The highlights of the evening included speeches by two area patients who receive blood on a regular basis. Five year old Katy Hubbell of Fisher was on hand to receive the well wishes of donors as she prepares for her bone marrow transplant in Texas. Dan Rinehart, a trauma nurse at Carle Foundation Hospital and a leukemia patient, spoke with great passion about the need for blood donors. He has experience in transfusing blood to patients and also in receiving blood for the treatment of his disease. Steven Rodriguez, a UIUC engineering student, was honored for donating bone marrow via the National Marrow Donor Program in February. Recognition Awards
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