LifeStream Blood Bank holds Thanks4Giving gala, honors Linda Evans
LifeStream's Thanks4Giving gala was held Nov. 12 at the Westin Mission Hills in Rancho Mirage. The event honored La Quinta Mayor Linda Evans as Humanitarian of the Year and featured a performance by pop star Taylor Dayne.
In the beautifully decorated ballroom, more than 300 guests listened as emcee Patrick Evans asked attendees to “please give generously” as without a constant stream of life-saving blood, many surgeries would end up in fatalities.
Opening remarks were given by Dr. Rick Axelrod, president, CEO and medical director of LifeStream.
When it came time for dinner, the Westin served a delicious meal consisting of short ribs and shrimp on a bed of creamy mashed potatoes. A vegetarian options was also offered, a perfect blend of winter vegetables.
After coffee and dessert, a short movie was shown in which honoree Evans explained how she managed to encourage everyone in her sphere of influence to donate blood and be community minded. Since 2014, her efforts have helped collect more than 2,800 pints of blood in the Coachella Valley. While she has served on many local boards throughout, she has been involved in health care for more than 34 years, spending the last 27 years in hospital administration.
As Evans was called to the stage, the audience stood and applauded.
Next came another short movie, this one about the role LifeStream had played in saving the life of Deputy Dustin Whitson. Shot in the line of duty, this young man nearly died and needed many pints of blood to save his life. Enter LifeStream — and after many transfusions and surgeries, Whitson survived and is now the proud father of a young daughter.
A live auction followed and then Dayne took to the stage, performing hits "Tell It to My Heart," "Love Will Lead You Back" and "Prove Your Love" and posing for photo after photo with admiring guests.
LifeStream Blood Bank is a private not-for-profit 501(c)(3) comprehensive blood center that was established in 1951 and has been collecting and connecting donors and patients through the gift of blood for more than 70 years. In addition to collecting blood, the staff performs multiple tests on each unit to make sure it is safe for patient use before is delivered to hospital partners.
To help LifeStream, consider hosting a blood drive at your business or organization or coordinate a community blood drive with other businesses in your neighborhood.
For more information or to make a donation, visit lstream.org.
Carole Stephen-Smith has lived in the desert for more than 30 years. Born in Edinburgh, Scotland, she began writing in London and has been a regular contributor to The Desert Sun for eight years.
This article originally appeared on Palm Springs Desert Sun: LifeStream Blood Bank holds Thanks4Giving gala
