The American Red Cross Recognizes Atlantic City Casinos

Showboat Atlantic City Hotel and Casino will host the 3rd Annual Atlantic City Casino Blood Donor Campaign Award Reception

ATLANTIC CITY, N.J., Feb. 17 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ — The American Red Cross and the Showboat Atlantic City Hotel are teaming up on Wednesday, February 25, 2009 to host the 3rd annual Atlantic City Casino Blood Donor Campaign awards reception.

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The event will honor those who have donated three or more times during the past year, along with recognizing casinos throughout Atlantic City for their efforts during the 2008 Atlantic City Casino Blood Donor Campaign.

“We want to thank all Atlantic City Casinos that hosted blood drives in 2008 for their hard work and dedication,” said Brigid O’Neill-LaGier, Chief Executive Officer of the American Red Cross Penn-Jersey Blood Services Region. “This year 3,772 units of blood were collected during the campaign, a 7.5% increase over 2007. These are terrific numbers.”

“The American Red Cross and our team members here at Harrah’s Atlantic City properties (Bally’s, Caesars, Harrah’s Resort and Showboat) work hand and hand,” said Jay Snowden, Sr. Vice President and General Manager, Harrah’s Entertainment. “We support the goals of the Red Cross and are proud to be their partner.”

Blood drives are held seven days a week in communities across the region. To make an immediate appointment for an American Red Cross blood drive this week, please call 1-800-GIVE LIFE (1-800-448-3543), or visit www.pleasegiveblood.org to find a listing of community blood drives.

Most healthy people who are at least 17 years old and weigh 110 pounds or more are eligible to donate whole blood every 56 days. In January of 2008 a law went into effect in the state of Pennsylvania that allows 16-year-old donors to donate blood with parental or legal guardian written consent. Donors can give blood at any one of nearly 200 blood drives sponsored by business and community groups in southeastern Pennsylvania and in New Jersey weekly, or at one of nine community donor centers.

Harrah’s Entertainment, the world’s largest gaming company, owns and operates four hotel casinos in the Atlantic City market – Bally’s, Caesars, Harrah’s Resort and Showboat – and the Atlantic City Club.

SOURCE American Red Cross Penn-Jersey Blood Services Region; Showboat Atlantic City