ExxonMobil employees and members of the public turned up in full force in 2004 to give blood during the annual blood donation drive organised by Singapore Chemical Plant (SCP) and Singapore Refinery.  Over 1,040 bags of blood were collected at six donation kiosks around Singapore, topping last year’s total collection by over 250 bags.

This year’s drive was also expanded to the vicinity of Jurong, Singapore's largest industrial estate. This follows the success of last year’s public drive at West Mall, a shopping complex near Jurong.

Donation kiosks were set up at IMM Building, a large shopping mall in Jurong East, on July 17.  Because it was a Saturday, IMM was crowded with shoppers.  The following Friday, July 23, the drive moved to HarbourFront Centre where the ExxonMobil administrative offices are located.  Many HarbourFront office employees showed up alongside members of the public to make blood donations.

On July 24, kiosks were set up at West Mall for a repeat of last year’s success.  Blood donation centres at Singapore Chemical Plant and Singapore Refinery were also open from July 19 to 21.

Magdalene Foo, Refinery Public Affairs Advisor, said: “Last year, ExxonMobil as a corporation, collected the largest number of bags for the Singapore Red Cross.  It is heartening to see the collection increase over the years, especially from first-time donors among employees and the public.”

“We feel very encouraged by the response,” said Selene Chan, Singapore Chemical Plant Public Affairs coordinator. “This is the third year that the blood drive is being organised and each year it grows larger in scale. We hope to continue to work with the Singapore Red Cross to help boost Singapore’s blood donation rate – which is currently only about one percent – and meet the needs of local hospitals.”

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A gift of life

More than 1,000 ExxonMobil employees and members of the public gave a gift of life in a series of blood donation drives in Singapore in 2003, resulting in a collection of 790 bags of blood.

The blood drive, which was organised by Singapore Chemical Plant (SCP) and Singapore Refinery, took place over six days. Originally held at SCP and Singapore Refinery's Jurong Island and Jurong sites in 2002, 2003's drive extended to the HarbourFront offices and West Mall, a popular suburban shopping complex.

Selene Chan, Public Affairs Site Advisor, said: "The blood drive was a big success. Besides roping in our industrial neighbours on Jurong Island and at Pioneer Road, we also invited Bukit Batok residents to our West Mall event. We're very happy because we have more than doubled our collection of 367 bags from the previous year's drive."

Magdalene Foo, Refinery Public Affairs Advisor, added: "The blood drive is designed to increase Singapore's one percent blood donation rate and meet the needs of hospitals across the island. This has been an annual event for the manufacturing sites and we intend to widen our reach in the Jurong vicinity for the future, given the encouraging response at West Mall."

The American Chamber of Commerce and the National Volunteer Centre also helped to publicise the event as part of their first Corporate Community Day and U.S. Ambassador to Singapore Frank Lavin took time to visit donors at West Mall.

Janice Mah, Refinery & Supply Client Consultant, formerly from Aromatics, and a first-time donor said: "I was a bit nervous at first but the nurses were very professional and a quick 10 minutes later, it was done. I'm glad to have done my part."

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