April 20, 1998 Contact: Elizabeth Latt 615-322-2706 elizabeth.p.latt@vanderbilt.edu

Family, friends of tornado victim

organize blood drive at Vanderbilt

NASHVILLE, Tenn. - Vanderbilt University students and the family of tornado victim Kevin Longinotti are organizing a blood drive Wednesday, April 22. The drive will honor the individuals who have donated blood for Longinotti and to replenish the blood supply.

Longinotti, a 22-year-old senior from Memphis, was injured during the April 16 tornado by a falling tree at Centennial Park. He remains in critical condition at Vanderbilt University Medical Center.

The blood drive will be held from 1 to 7 p.m. in the Auxiliary Gym, located on the Vanderbilt campus within Memorial Gym at the corner of 25th Avenue South and Vanderbilt Place. Signs will be posted at the site. Parking will be available in lot 68, located between West End Avenue and Vanderbilt stadium. The lot can be accessed from Natchez Trace or 26th Avenue South.

Longinotti is a resident adviser at a freshman residence hall. His fellow resident advisers and family came up with the idea to host a blood drive on campus, said Carol Miller, manager of donor resources development at the American Red Cross.

"There are a lot of heroes in this situation. The blood was there for Kevin because the community had donated it. What the students are looking to do is replace that blood, so that the blood will be there for the next patient."

During the blood drive, donors will be able to sign cards to send personal messages to Longinotti and his family.

Miller said that 223 pints of blood were shipped out in the aftermath of the tornado, with the majority of those units going to Vanderbilt University Medical Center.

Those who wish to donate blood at the Vanderbilt drive must be 17 years old, weigh at least 110 pounds, feel well the day of the drive and know of no reason why they should not donate. Donors should also not have given blood in the past 56 days.

-VU-

Vanderbilt University is a private research university of approximately 5,900 undergraduates and 4,300 graduate and professional students. Founded in 1873, the University comprises 10 schools, a public policy institute, a distinguished medical center and The Freedom Forum First Amendment Center. Vanderbilt offers undergraduate programs in the liberal arts and sciences, education and human development, engineering and music, and a full range of graduate and professional degrees.

For more news about Vanderbilt, visit the News and Public Affairs home page on the Internet at http://www.vanderbilt.edu/News.