On March 27, 2026, Kent School organized a blood donation event at North Court. This event was organized by the Red Cross Club in coordination with the American Red Cross. Many students and employees at Kent School participated in the event. The atmosphere was full of positivity, and of course, some nervousness. All the people who stepped onto the court had hearts willing to “sacrifice” some of their blood to help others.
The American Red Cross organization provides about 40% of the blood in the country. This blood is important because it is used in many situations, such as during surgery, cancer treatment, and for injuries that happen in accidents. Hence, every bag of blood has priceless value.
The outcome of the Kent event was a success. In total, there were 23 pints of blood collected, 14 of which were from first-time donors. Although some people are scared, especially first-time donors, they are still willing to gather their courage and choose to give it a try—and that is a truly remarkable thing. One pint can save around three people’s lives, so this event could have saved approximately 69 people. Hence, this event illustrates that a small action can bring a large impact.
Gusie Sambalido, leader and sponsor of the Red Cross Club at Kent School, said that he grew up in an environment “steeped in volunteerism,” and his family has long been involved in related work. Consequently, upon arriving at Kent, he wished to continue engaging in such activities. He hopes that through his own efforts, he can help “make the world a little fairer.” Of course, the sponsor of this event was not only Gusie. He mentioned Mrs. Sokolnicki, who assisted with logistics and coordination alongside the American Red Cross. He said that the hardest part was simply “starting,” but said that once the event got started, everything that followed was increasingly smooth.
Before the event, Gusie was nervous because he thought many people would not be willing to participate due to the fear of blood draws. However, the result surprised him. He discovered that many students were willing to donate blood; for some students who were hesitant, after they learned the meaning of donating blood, they were also willing to participate. This event made Gusie feel that students at Kent are kind and willing to do their best to help others.
This blood donation event also taught people a crucial lesson about leadership: having faith in people. As Gusie noted, meaningful ideas often go unrealized due to doubt, but when given purpose and clarity, communities respond.
