Over the past seven years, the legal community has donated 27,482 units of blood to the Gulf Coast Regional Blood Center through the HBA Paul E. Stallings Blood Drive. Established in 2002-2003 as the “Year of Giving” Blood Drive by then-president Tom Godbold of Fulbright & Jaworski, the drive was rededicated in 2008 as the Paul E. Stallings Blood Drive in honor of the late Vinson & Elkins partner, who was a strong supporter of the blood donation in Houston.

As of press time, the 2008-2009 drive had collected 5,629 units, well in excess of this year’s goal of 5,500 units. From an initial goal of 2,000 units in its first year, the HBA blood drive has never failed to meet its goal and has in fact exceeded its goal by between 2 percent and 13 percent each year. The HBA drive is the largest blood drive by a professional organization in this area.

The Gulf Coast Regional Blood Center serves 25 counties in the Texas Gulf Coast, Brazos Valley and East Texas regions. To meet the needs of the area, The Blood Center must collect more than 1,000 donations every day or 320,000 units for 2009. That is why The Blood Center encourages individuals to “Commit for Life” through three easy steps:

1. Donate once per quarter
2. Allow The Blood Center to contact you; and
3. Spread the word, encouraging others to “Commit for Life.”

The HBA encourages law firms, corporate legal departments, courts, and other entities to sponsor blood drives throughout the year. During 2008-2009, over 180 blood drives were sponsored in the legal community. You may donate at any of these locations, which are listed in each month’s Houston Bar Bulletin, or you may donate at any of 20 conveniently located Neighborhood Donor Centers. If you donate at a location not affiliated with the HBA Paul E. Stallings Blood Drive, please give the donor code QM07 to have your donation count toward the HBA’s goal.

For more information on the blood drive and the Gulf Coast Regional Blood Center, visit the HBA Web site at www.hba.org or the Gulf Coast Regional Blood Center Web site at www.giveblood.org.

Tara Shockley is the Communications Director for the Houston Bar Association.