Two Doylestown dealerships helped collect 282 units of blood for the American Red Cross last month as Fred Beans Automotive Group ran nine blood drives across its Ford and Lincoln stores during July.
The timing was critical. Three days before the final drive wrapped on July 30, the Red Cross declared a national blood supply crisis on July 27, reporting less than a one-day national supply of O-positive blood and limiting distributions to hospitals. It was only the second such declaration in Red Cross history.
Fred Beans Ford of Doylestown and Fred Beans Lincoln of Doylestown were among the nine participating locations, according to Patch. The drives were part of Ford Motor Company's "Ford Building Together - Summer of Community Impact" initiative, which enlisted 250 dealerships nationwide to support a charity in honor of America's 250th birthday.
"We appreciated the opportunity and were proud to involve all eight of our Ford dealerships and our Lincoln dealership in the Summer of Community Impact," said Beth Beans Gilbert, vice president of Fred Beans Automotive Group. She credited Elena Ford, Ford's chief dealer engagement officer, with envisioning a celebration at the dealership level that would strengthen each community through charitable events.
Fred Beans selected the Red Cross because of a relationship stretching nearly 20 years. The July drives pushed the company's lifetime donation total to 2,588 units and reinforced its Premier Partner status with the organization.
As an incentive, Fred Beans' Ford Mobile Service offered donors a free oil change or tire rotation at each site. Seventy mobile services were completed across the nine locations.
Fred Beans, who opened his first Ford dealership in Doylestown in 1975, still leads the company he built into Pennsylvania's largest privately held automotive group, now spanning 30 dealerships.
The Red Cross attributed the summer blood shortage to extreme heat, poor air quality and widespread foodborne illnesses reducing donor turnout. Chris Hrouda, president of Red Cross Biomedical Services, said in the July 27 declaration that the organization urgently needs eligible donors to schedule appointments.
Residents can book a blood donation at RedCrossBlood.org or by calling 1-800-733-2767. The Red Cross is offering a $20 Amazon gift card to anyone who donates in August.
Upcoming
- August blood donations: Schedule at RedCrossBlood.org or call 1-800-733-2767; $20 Amazon gift card for all donors through August.
