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Pomperaug High School Marketing Students Join Forces with Members of Jobs for America’s Graduates to Promote Annual School Blood Drive Pomperaug High School’s (PHS) Marketing students recently joined forces with members of Jobs for America’s Graduates (J.A.G.) to promote the club’s 8th Annual Blood Drive for the American Red Cross. J.A.G. is a PHS service organization that serves to connect clubs and classrooms with the community. By sponsoring blood drives, food and clothing drives, donations, and other forms of community service, students work to give back to the community while increasing the relationship between Region 15’s high school and the regional area. Over 100 students from grades nine through twelve are enrolled in the high school’s first-year offerings of Marketing and Economics. Marketing students learn the basic principles of the field and develop an understanding of the career opportunities in the areas of advertising, merchandising and marketing. Topics include product development, promotion, design and packaging, event planning, methods of advertising, public relations and sales promotion. For the very first time, these two groups of students teamed their learned expertise to promote and sponsor a life saving event. “The theme for the blood drive was ‘Be A Superhero - Save Lives - Donate Blood’,” explained J.A.G. advisor Mrs. Lois DeGregory. The March 21st event was dedicated to their 72 year old, beloved substitute teacher, Mr. Charlie Paddock. According to students, Mr. Paddock, who was diagnosed with prostate cancer two years ago and is currently in remission, is somewhat of a super hero himself. “He is someone we all know and love,” said J.A.G. member, Jennifer Z. “Mr. Paddock is admired and respected,” echoed another member, Ashley A. “It is wonderful to give back to the community and honor Mr. Paddock with this blood drive,” she added. Cancer patients, trauma victims and premature babies are among those who benefit from blood transfusions. According to Mrs. DeGregory, there is currently a state-wide shortage of blood throughout Connecticut’s hospitals. “The hospitals experience a 2,000 pint supply shortage on a daily basis,” she explained. The PHS drive usually draws up to 170 donors, comprised of staff and students, aged 17 and up. Because this year’s event was dedicated to Mr. Paddock, over 220 donors volunteered to give blood. “That’s approximately 200 pints of blood for the American Red Cross,” said Mrs. DeGregory. “The collaboration between the Marketing students and my J.A.G. students was very beneficial,” she said. “My kids live for this event. This year they were freed from promotion and were able to focus on the details of the actual blood drive.” J.A.G. members fulfill several hours of community service through donor recruitment prior to the event, organizing donor schedules, providing nutritious food and assisting donors on the day of the six hour blood drive. This year, members donned superhero costumes in keeping with the theme. PHS Marketing and Economics teacher, Mrs. Kathleen Shannon, explained how students enrolled in her classes researched and implemented ways to market a non-profit event. “The blood drive gave them hands on experience with an actual charity event,” said Mrs. Shannon. “Linking what they’ve learned from their textbooks with real world experience is very gratifying. I’m proud of the job they did,” she said. Each of Mrs. Shannon’s three Marketing classes took responsibility for a different part of the promotional campaign. Divided duties included contacting local news and broadcast media, advertising within the Pomperaug community via the school web site, in-house cable station, and through the use of creative slogans and eye catching posters. Marketing students designed an attention getting kiosk that was used for recruiting donors in the school’s cafeteria. Students also prepared materials that explained the requirements for giving blood and debunked the myths associated with donating. Materials also served to create awareness of the need for donors along with an explanation of how the donated blood is used. “This was a wonderful experience for us,” said Marketing student, Virginia B. “It was especially satisfying because we were able to dedicate this to Mr. Paddock.” Throughout the morning, students who passed through the gymnasium to donate blood, stopped to pat Mr. Paddock on the back, offer smiles and exchange kind words. “I’m like Pomperaug High School’s grandfather and I think of these kids as my grandchildren,” said Mr. Paddock. “I am very proud and touched by this effort and I love them all,” he said. To learn more about donating blood or to make an appointment to donate, please visit www.givelife.org or call 1800 GIVE LIFE (1 800 448-3543).  |