35 years of Ukraine’s Independence – 35 litres of blood: How we held our corporate Blood Donation Day

To mark the 35th anniversary of Ukraine’s Independence, Pivdenny Bank’s employees took part in a corporate Blood Donation Day. The colleagues donated blood in Kyiv and Odesa, coming together for a common goal – to help those who need it.

As a result, we managed to collect 35 litres of blood – a figure that was coincidental yet deeply symbolic, one litre for each year of Ukraine’s independence.

“Today, Ukraine’s independence has a very tangible price – people’s lives and health. It is defended on the front line, saved in the hospitals, and supported by thousands of Ukrainians every day. Therefore, 35 litres of blood for us is not just a number. It is our way of thanking those who defend Ukraine and contributing to saving the lives of those who need help,” says Zhanna Kanchukivska, Head of the Marketing and Communications Department.

Blood cannot be artificially produced – it can only be given by people. One donation can help save up to three lives, since the donated blood is separated into components that are used to treat different patients. Just imagine: our 15-minute donations during corporate Blood Donation Days will help save more than 100 lives!

“I truly appreciate this opportunity, because helping one another is more important than ever, and I am glad to be able to support those who need it. It is very convenient that everything is organised directly in the office – there is no need to think about logistics, preparation and registration on your own. In addition, initiatives like this are a great way to communicate important values across the entire team. And a feeling of unity with the colleagues is incredibly uplifting and brings a lot of positivity. I would also like to mention the lovely gifts from Blood Agents – I have already enjoyed the tasty bonus. And, of course, it was nice to receive a commemorative souvenir from the Bank,” says Vladyslava Dimova, Compensation and Benefits Project Manager and this year’s participant in the corporate Blood Donation Day.

This time, the Blood Donation Day was organised with the support of Blood Agents, a non-governmental organisation promoting a culture of regular blood donation in Ukraine. Thanks to our partnership with Blood Agents, we were not only able to organise the blood donation drive but also encourage more of our colleagues to take part.

“Corporate social responsibility should start with blood donation. Blood donors are especially needed during times of constant attacks and hostilities. In addition to scheduled surgeries, there are frontline needs and the need to help people affected by attacks. Blood can and must save lives! That is why it is extremely important to develop a culture of blood donation within your company, especially when it has the opportunity to organise blood donations in different regions,” says Oleh Oladko, Corporate Blood Donation Team Lead at Blood Agents.

At the same time, we are still receiving feedback from the colleagues who independently donated blood at blood collection centres in other cities. So far, this has added almost 15 litres of blood to the total!

We thank to all our colleagues who joined this large-scale initiative, and our partners at Blood Agents for helping us organise the event and promote a culture of blood donation.