Community Partnerships -

U.P. Regional Blood Center Blood Mobile Dedicated

The Marquette General Foundation’s first successfully completed fundraiser resulted in the purchase of a Blood Mobile for the U.P. Regional Blood Center. The $177,000 Blood Mobile was dedicated Wednesday, August 1 in a ceremony at Westwood Mall.

The Blood Mobile is sponsored by Snyders Drug Stores, Upper Peninsula Power Company, the Marquette General Foundation, Marquette General Hospital Volunteers, and 13 community hospitals throughout the Upper Peninsula.

The U.P. Regional Blood Center collects approximately 12,000 units of whole blood and 10,000 units of platelets every year from throughout the Upper Peninsula, and distributes blood products to the participating hospitals. They comprise Baraga County Community Hospital, Bell Hospital, Dickinson County Healthcare System, Grand View Health System, Helen Newberry Joy Hospital, Iron County Community Hospital, Keweenaw Memorial Medical Center, Marquette General Health System, Munising Memorial Hospital, Ontonagon Memorial Hospital, Portage Health, Schoolcraft Memorial Hospital, and War Memorial Hospital.

Cutting the ribbon on the new U.P. Regional Blood Center Blood Mobile are left to right, blood recipient Lori Kaznowski; Marquette General Foundation Board President Daniel Arnold, MD; Marquette General Board of Trustees Chair Tim Larson; Marquette General Hospital Volunteers President Carolyn Severson; Marquette General Assistant Administrator Al Hendra; Upper Peninsula Health Care Network Executive Director Gerald Messana; Marquette General Board member Lois Michelin; MK Stores, Inc. President Ron Katers (representing Snyders Drug Stores); Marquette General Volunteers Board Member Lynn Moon; Marquette General Director of Laboratory Services John Rhoades; MGHS CEO Bill Nemacheck; UPPCO Communication Manager and Community Relations Leader Janet Wolfe. Not visible in the photo it John Weiss, MD, medical director of the MGHS Laboratory and transfusion services.



Marquette General Health System CEO Bill Nemacheck addresses the crowd gathered on Wednesday, August 1 for the dedication of the U.P. Regional Blood Center Blood Mobile at Westwood Mall in Marquette. Seated on the dais for the celebration of the first successfully completed project of the Marquette General Foundation, from left, are Marquette General Foundation President Daniel Arnold MD; Marquette General Board Chair Tim Larson; Ron Katers president of MK Stores Inc. and Snyders Drug Stores, which is a major sponsor of the Blood Mobile; Janet Wolfe of Upper Peninsula Power Company (UPPCO), also a major sponsor of the Blood Mobile; and Carolyn Severson, president of the Marquette General Hospital Volunteers.



Marquette General Foundation President Daniel Arnold, MD, presents a recognition certificate to  Carolyn Severson, President of the Marquette General Hospital Volunteers. The Volunteers raised more than half of the $177,000 needed to purchase the Blood Mobile

Anyone who is in good health, at least 17 years old, and weighs at least 110 pounds is encouraged to donate blood. For more information on donating blood or to make an appointment, call the U.P. Regional Blood Center at 225-4610 or 1-800-914-GIVE (4483).