COUNTYWIDE : Elizabeth Dole Honors Volunteer

Through the years, Dee Jurczyk has helped sustain the lives of hundreds of patients with life-threatening illnesses and injuries. As a Disneyland employee activities representative, Jurczyk has organized about 14 company blood drives during the past seven years.

On Tuesday, she received the highest honor given by the Red Cross when she was presented the Maxine Haun Lifetime Achievement award by Elizabeth Dole, former secretary of transportation now serving as the organization’s national president.

The ceremony included other Disney employees: Mickey and Minnie Mouse escorted Jurczyk on stage as she accepted the triangular-shaped glass plaque.

“I have seen what a difference (blood drives) can make,” Jurczyk said after the two-hour breakfast and ceremony. “I have a healthy family at home and it is such a big difference giving to those who aren’t as fortunate.”

More than 40 local businesses were recognized for their support to the Los Angeles and Orange County Red Cross Biomedical Services Program. About 250 Red Cross volunteers and corporate representatives attended the third annual event at the Irvine Barclay Theatre.

Last year, with the help of company blood drives, more than 62,000 pints of blood were collected in Orange County.

Among the contributors was Robert Hungerschafer, 34, who has donated about 29 gallons of blood to date. Hungerschafer, who began donating when he was a 17-year-old high school student in Montreal, received a plaque for his help in the blood donation drive.

During the past 17 years, he has given 128 pints of whole blood cells and has made 109 donations through “apheresis,” a process that separates specific blood components. These donations are given to patients with specific needs.

“Someone is here because of me,” said Hungerschafer, whose lifetime goal is to donate 500 pints by age 65. “Others are here and healthy as a result of my donations.”

Hungerschafer, a computer programmer for the Raymond Group and a student at Cal State Fullerton, has an unusual blood type, A-negative, and has been matched with several leukemia patients over the years. He used to give blood as often as twice a week, but now makes bimonthly apheresis donations, a process that takes about two hours.

Hungerschafer said it’s a small price to pay to save a life.

“It doesn’t cost anything. And they show you a movie while you wait.”

“Witness,” “Dead Poets Society,” and “Altered States” are some of the movies Hungerschafer has seen while a machine separates the components of his blood.

For Hungerschafer, reward comes from donor recipients like Jason Glenn, 15, who was one of three children at the breakfast who have received blood donations from the Red Cross. “It’s simple and easy,” he said. “People like Jason would not be alive without this.”

Glenn, who suffers from diamond blackfan syndrome, a rare blood disease, has received 1,000 pints of blood from the Red Cross since birth.

“I wouldn’t be here if it weren’t for you,” Glenn said, sobbing. “Thank you. Please continue to help me.”