West Valley police and fire join Valleywide blood donation tribute

On Sept. 11, 2001, a total of 411 emergency first-responders lost their lives in the terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center.

Join firefighters and police officers in a Valleywide effort to donate a pint of blood for every life lost among their ranks. Give blood Sept. 8-13. Be counted as one of the 411 people to donate in their honor.

"I knew friends, relatives and brother firemen who were in those buildings on Sept. 11. My family members made it out alive, but 50 people from my hometown perished," said Rich Damante, a former New York firefighter, who also works as a United Blood Services/Arizona donor recruitment representative. 

Damante's compassion for the fallen firefighters motivated him to launch a Valleywide tribute to give blood in their honor. 

"Some of the men who taught me to be a firefighter were members of the FDNY," Damante said. "When I watched on TV, it was not the sight that got to me, but the sound. If you listen to the footage, you will hear the chirping noises of the PASS alarm that is activated when a firefighter is down. I knew what that sound meant."

In appreciation for joining the effort, all donors will receive a patriotic commemorative T-shirt. To make an appointment at a designated tribute location, call 1-877-448-GIVE (4483), or visit www.BloodHero.com (for ease of navigation, enter the designated sponsor code provided below, if listed).

WEST VALLEY

Sept. 8

• El Mirage: City Senior Center, 14010 N. El Mirage Road, 9 a.m.-2 p.m. (Sponsor code: cityofelmirage)

• Maricopa: Fire Station, 44624 W. Garvey, 8 a.m.-6 p.m. (Sponsor code: cityofmaricopa)

Sept. 9

• Sun City West: Fire District Office, 18818 N. Spanish Garden Drive, 8:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. (Sponsor code: suncitywestfd)

• Surprise: Fire/Police Bldg., 14250 W. Statler Plaza, 8:30 a.m.-1 p.m., open to fire/police staff only

Sept. 11

• Glendale: UBS Glendale Donor Center, 18583 N. 59^th Ave., 10 a.m.-7 p.m.

• Sun City: Fire Administrative Bldg., 18602 N. 99^th Ave., 9 a.m.-1 p.m. (Sponsor code: SCFD)

CENTRAL VALLEY

Sept. 11

• Phoenix: UBS Black Canyon Donor Center, 5757 N. Black Canyon Highway., 10 a.m.-7 p.m.

• Phoenix: UBS Paradise Valley Donor Center, 3227 E. Bell Road, Suite D-270, 10 a.m.-7 p.m.

• Phoenix: UBS West Valley Donor Center, 2929 N. 75^th Ave., No. 5, 10 a.m.-7 p.m.

EAST VALLEY

Sept. 8

• Scottsdale: Salt River Fire Dept., 10005 E. Osborn, 1 p.m.-6 p.m. (Sponsor code: saltriverfd)

Sept. 11

• Chandler: UBS Chandler Donor Center, 1987 W. Elliot Road, No. 33, 10 a.m.-7 p.m.

• Mesa: UBS East Valley Donor Center, 1337 S. Gilbert Road, Suite 101, 10 a.m.-7 p.m.

• Scottsdale: UBS Commerce Donor Center, 1405 N. Hayden Road, 10 a.m.-7 p.m.

• Scottsdale: UBS Airpark Donor Center, 15170 N. Hayden Road, Suite 6, 10 a.m.-7 p.m.

• Tempe: Healing Field at Tempe Beach Park, 80 W. Rio Salado Parkway, 8 a.m.-1 p.m. (Sponsor code: 9/11)

Sept. 13

• Sun Lakes: Fire District at Cottonwood Country Club, 25630 Brentwood Drive, 8 a.m. - noon (Sponsor code sunlakesfire)

• Tempe: Healing Field at Tempe Beach Park, 80 W. Rio Salado Parkway, 8 a.m. - 1 p.m. (Sponsor code: 9/11)