The Blood Connection (TBC), a non – profit blood center, today announced its new partnership with The Citadel Athletics . The military c ollege in downtown Charleston will officially welcome TBC to campus when their partnership k icks off on September 22 nd with a blood drive for the Corps of Cadets and Charleston community . “The Citadel Athletics is proud to partner with The Blood Conn ection,” said Kevin Olivett, Associate Athletic Director for External Operations at The Citadel. “ We look forward to helping increase the local footprint of The Blood Connection and to bring more awareness towards the cause.” TBC is the primary blood provider for Lowcountry hospitals including Roper St. Francis hospitals , Trident Health hospitals, and is a supplemental provider for MUSC Hospitals. The blood supply has been critically low since before the summer because of historic ally low blood donor turnout , as well as an increase in traumas and natural disasters . “ During this third wave of COVID, we have seen a marked decrease in blood donation while maintaining a significant need for blood products,” said J. Rick McEvoy, MD, MBA, Chairman of Pathology at Roper St. Francis Healthcare and Medical Director at Roper Hospital Laboratories. “ In any community, blood donation is a critical part of the overall process of caring for patient. Please consider donating blood so we can continu e providing the best in healthcare to our patients .”
