Memorial Blood Centers Returns for Chanhassen Dinner Theatre

This year, Memorial Blood Centers returns for Chanhassen Dinner Theatres' 3rd Annual Community Blood Drive on Wednesday afternoon, June 8, sponsored by community business partners, Chanhassen Dinner Theatres and Culver's Restaurant of Chanhassen. Chanhassen Dinner Theatres' event organizer Linda Spekman stated, "This year people will have the unique opportunity to give blood on stage! It's the first time we're offering people an opportunity to take the stage and be a real star when they make their blood donation. Donors needn't have stage fright - there won't be an audience!"

Everyone who donates a pint of blood will receive the gift of a free pint of Culver's Custard given by Culver's of Chanhassen. Donors will also be eligible to win Minnesota Twins tickets for the Metropolitan Club or to win free tickets to Chanhassen Dinner Theatres for JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR.

Donating blood gives people an opportunity to give an ultimately life-saving gift to another person in need. It's a wonderful community outreach project; donated blood goes directly to Minnesota recipients. One in seven patients entering a hospital needs blood and the blood bank requires 2,400 pints of blood per week to satisfy hospital demand.

Spekman continued, "I'm an A- blood-type which is fairly rare. Only 6% of the population has that type. So the blood bank calls me 5-10 times each year to give my blood for that very reason. A person can donate their blood once every 56 days. People probably don't know the gift of a pint of precious blood can be used to save three lives because they use the plasma, the platelets and the red blood cells. And guess what? It only takes a matter of hours for a person to replenish the fluids of their donation!"

People may be interested to know that giving blood:

will NOT decrease your strength.
will NOT give you AIDS or any other infectious disease.

Blood donations fall short during the summer months and winter holidays. So this is a perfect time for area residents to make a blood donation. Be prepared before you donate blood. Individuals may donate blood if they are between the ages of 17 (16 with signed parental consent) and 78. Know your health history and be familiar with medications you are taking. Drink plenty of fluids the day before, the day of and after donating. Eat something before you donate. Do not give blood if you are ill (this includes if you have a cold). Get adequate sleep the night prior to giving blood. Bring your valid driver's license. Please enter the front doors of the dinner theatre and follow the signs to the blood donation location in the Fireside Theatre between noon and 4pm on Wednesday afternoon, June 8th. Four donors can give blood at one time onstage! Appointments are highly recommended by calling Linda at 952-934-1556, or register for an appointment online at mbc.org/searchdrives and enter in sponsor code 3548 to be linked directly to the Chanhassen Dinner Theatres' Blood Drive.

Please remember, the rarest blood-type is the one not on the shelf when it's needed by a patient. Blood donation - it's about an hour of your time - it's about life!
For more information about blood donation requirements and/or restrictions, go directly to www.mbc.org or call Memorial Blood Centers at 1-888-GIVE-BLD.

ABOUT CHANHASSEN DINNER THEATRES
Founded in 1968, Chanhassen Dinner Theatres is the nation's largest Equity dinner theatre with multiple theatres under one roof. Over the years, more than 220 productions have graced the stages at Chanhassen, and more than 10,000,000 guests have been entertained. While Chanhassen's Main Stage features large-scale musical blockbusters, smaller theatres showcase classic straight plays, a Comedy Club and a wide variety of musical revues. For more information, visit ChanhassenDT.com.

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