It Gets Better x American Red Cross

By Brian Wenke – Executive Director, It Gets Better

My mother worked for the American Red Cross for nearly 25 years. I am convinced her nonprofit career inspired mine, as I was introduced at a very young age to the importance of service (and being of service) for the betterment of society. My mom focused on blood services, which had her on a constant mission to expand blood collection efforts within the central Ohio region (i.e., my home grounds). I was too young at the time to participate (under 17), but it was always understood just how important blood donation was — and how it saved lives.

Cut to <ahem> a few years later, and I have found myself in a position to walk a mile in my mother’s shoes. When a new friend from the American Red Cross reached out with an opportunity to partner, it didn’t take long for me to see the value our two organizations could bring to one another — especially on the heels of a much-welcomed revision of the Food & Drug Administration’s (FDA) blood donation guidelines that opens the door for LGBTQ+ people to participate in this life-saving endeavor. 

From its inception, It Gets Better has been a source of hope and community for young LGBTQ+ people on their sexual orientation and/or gender identity journey. From award-winning informative storytelling initiatives like Queer Sex Ed to powerful grantmaking campaigns like 50 States. 50 Grants. 5000 Voices., there is one common thread that connects everything we do at It Gets Better: we help young people build confidence in who they are by connecting them to their power and to a supportive community. Community service is the perfect vehicle to elevate both of those priorities.

I invite all LGBTQ+ youth, and the folks who love and support them, to educate themselves about the critical importance of blood donation, the revised FDA guidelines, and the looming blood shortage that could threaten the lives of any one of us. Visit us at ItGetsBetter.org/Red-Cross to get more information about the opportunities forLGBTQ+ young people (and their allies) to get involved and to be of service – and maybe save a life or two in the process!

Brian