Local Red Cross Received Award

The American Red Cross of Kosciusko County recently won an award for its commitment to blood service in the county.

The organization won the Chapter Partnership Award at the American Red Cross Blood Services, Indiana-Ohio Region, annual meeting and recognition. The ceremony was Aug. 17 in the Marriott Hotel, Fort Wayne.

The award goes to a chapter, hospital or sponsor committed to increasing blood donors, customer service and has knowledge about blood service.

Larry Peppel, executive director of the American Red Cross of Kosciusko County, said the organization is honored to win the award.

"We are delighted to have won the award, but we could not have been recognized if it hadn't been for the volunteers, schools and churches who support us," Peppel said.

Kosciusko citizens helped increase blood collections by 43 percent last year.

"We have many outstanding volunteers and wonderful blood donors," Peppel said.

Red Cross representatives from the Kosciusko chapter who attended the meeting included Carol Stanton, director of program services; Ivana Goodrich, chapter administrative assistant; and Jill DeBatty, chairman of the board of directors.

Volunteers and businesses of Kosciusko County also were recognized for their service during the meeting.

Lewis Rule, 90, Warsaw, won the Outstanding Volunteer Service Award. The award recognizes volunteers at blood drives, donation centers and local chapters. Rule has been a volunteer for 25 years.

"I'm happy that I have been able to volunteer and cheer up donors by telling them jokes," Rule said.

Stephen Prater, 13, of Warsaw received the Outstanding Youth Volunteer Award, which is given to a Boy Scout who demonstrates leadership and involvement in serving their local Red Cross.

"It's fun volunteering and helps me get my service hours for Boy Scouts," Prater said. He is a member of Troop 730 of Warsaw.

Prater has volunteered with the Kosciusko County Red Cross for the past two years for their disaster team and blood services group.

L. Arden Boyer Jr. received an outstanding blood donor award for his donation of 161 units of blood.

Miller's Merry Manor Nursing Home, Warsaw, received the First Time Sponsor Award. The award recognizes businesses, churches and community organizations that held their first American Red Cross blood drive during the last year.

Depuy Orthopaedics and Zimmer received the Growing by Leaps and Bounds award for increasing the units of blood donated at their drives by 50 percent or more in the last year.