ARIZONA NEWS

West Valley teacher wins car through Vitalant’s summer blood drive

Oct 11, 2024, 6:30 PM | Updated: 7:31 pm

Barbara Parrish in Vitalant car after winning blood donor raffle...

Barbara Parrish, a 28-time blood donor, won a 2024 VW Jetta S after a Vitalant raffle on Wednesday, Oct. 9, 2024. (Vitalant photo)

(Vitalant photo)

PHOENIX — Barbara Parrish was announced as the grand prize winner of a 2024 VW Jetta S on Wednesday following a Vitalant blood drive that ran from May 24-Sept. 6.

Parrish, a 28-time blood donor and physiology teacher at Centennial High School in Surprise, was among the 10 finalists randomly chosen by 516 volunteer coordinators of the Vitalant “Summer Drive to Save Lives” Volkswagen raffle contest.

All 10 finalists met at the drawing location of Vitalant’s Southwest division headquarters in Tempe, where CW7 Arizona aired it all live. Parrish’s case (number nine) was selected during a quasi Deal or No Deal prize ceremony.

Her commitment to blood donation was bolstered 25 years ago after her 11-year-old daughter needed two blood transfusions following tonsillectomy complications.

“At that point I realized from personal experience how donating blood saves lives,” Barbara said in a press release. “It saved my daughter!”

Parrish also learned the red blood cells in her most recent donation were used to help a man suffering from kidney issues and anemia currently being treated at a northwestern Arizona hospital.

Besides her duties as a teacher, Parrish serves as the faculty advisor of the Health Occupations Students of America (HOSA) chapter at Centennial and is the primary blood drive coordinator. Parrish led the HOSA committee through three blood drives in the 2023-24 school year that saw 160 donations and garnered the bronze award in the Vitalant High School Blood Drive Challenge.

“Blood drive coordinators work the hardest to maintain our blood supply,” Side Lewis, vice president of Vitalant’s Southwest division, said. “It was so rewarding to see Barbara Parrish win the Volkswagen, especially since she is such a dedicated coordinator, blood donor and medical teacher.”

In the three-and-a-half month donation period, Vitalant received 55,286 donations.

Those interested can schedule an appointment with Vitalant online.

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West Valley teacher wins car through Vitalant’s summer blood drive