Grayslake woman receives national recognition for blood drives

After learning how great a need there is for blood donations during a chance conversation seven years ago, Grayslake resident Laurie Brey started what would become a popular blood drive at her church. For her efforts, Brey was inducted into a national Blood Donation Hall of Fame this week.

Brey was one of 12 inductees selected this week for the honor given out every year by Fresenius Kabi, a global blood donation supply manufacturer.

"When you read through her story, she is like the quintessential advocate for blood donation," said Len DiGati, a senior director of company branding for Fresenius Kabi. "She's out there making things happen."

Brey said she got into blood donation after speaking with a representative from the Versiti Blood Center of Illinois in Grayslake at a charity event for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. She said she initially went to the blood center's booth at the event because she liked that they had a T-shirt that said "grateful."

"The next thing you knew I was having blood drives, and doing it ever since," said Brey, who hosted her first drive in 2015. "I still have the shirt."

Brey hosts four blood drives per year in the gymnasium of her church, the Lord of Glory Lutheran Church in Grayslake. She is tenacious about signing up members of the community.

"I keep everyone on schedule. As soon as people are done donating, I'm at the snack table scheduling them for the next one," Brey said with a laugh. "And I've got over 300 previous donors on my phone who I check in with."

Her persistence has paid off. In 2020, even with the country in the grip of the COVID-19 pandemic, the blood drives Brey hosted brought in 265 donations.

DiGati said the reason Fresenius Kabi started the Hall of Fame was to elevate stories of volunteers like Brey who are essential to growing the blood donor community.

"Hearing about the need for blood from a peer is probably the number one reason people decide to donate," DiGati said. "We need more people like Laurie."

In addition to induction into Fresenius Kabi's Hall of Fame - which is viewable at fresenius-kabi.com/us/company/donation-hall-of-fame - Brey will also be added to the 2022 edition of a calendar the company distributes to blood donation centers.

Frey said she was over the moon when she heard she'd been chosen.

"I had no idea that hundreds of applicants were sent in from across the US," Frey said. "I'm deeply touched and honored."