For well over 25 years, employees at Al Sigl Center and its partner agencies have donated blood during the Center’s frequent Blood Drives for the American Red Cross. “We are usually delighted when a local organization volunteers annually for blood donation,” said Kay Schwartz, Chief Executive Officer, Blood Services, of the American Red Cross, New York Penn Region, “but Al Sigl Center is one of our best sponsors, they’ve held three or four separate drives every year for over 25 years.”

“The tradition of donating blood and its importance for our community are well recognized by all of us here at Al Sigl Center, particularly because our namesake, Al Sigl” said Dan Meyers, president of Al Sigl Center. Al Sigl, (1883-1966) famed local newspaper man and radio personality, used his radio program on local stations WHAM and WHEC beginning in 1937 to connect those in need of blood donations with those who were willing to give. By carefully keeping track of all important donor information on his system of 3 x 5 index cards, Mr. Sigl was able to catalogue a ready and willing donor base that included all of Upstate New York and beyond.

Al Sigl’s Legion of Blood Donors achieved national fame. But it did more, it made Rochester and the rest of Upstate New York more blood-conscious. This helped set a pattern that was followed by the American Red Cross in the vital early years of World War II to establish blood banks in most of our country’s cities. After the war, in 1948, the Legion was absorbed into the Red Cross and Rochester was chosen for the pilot program because of what Al Sigl and his donors had done.

Al Sigl Center is a unique community partnership of eight caring agencies-each operating independently in program services, budget and staff-but passionately working together to improve the lives of over 70,000 kids and grownups with disabilities in the Greater Rochester area. The other agencies are; The Arc of Monroe County, CP Rochester, Epilepsy Foundation of Rochester-Syracuse-Binghamton, Mary Cariola Children's Center, Medical Motor Service, National Multiple Sclerosis Society - Upstate New York Chapter, Rochester Hearing & Speech Center and Rochester Rehabilitation Center.