Red Cord Honors Program

Recognizing High School Blood Donors & Volunteers

Advisor Information

The Red Cord Honors Program is designed to recognize students who have made the choice to participate in the life-saving act of blood donation with the American Red Cross at least seven(7) times during their high school career. The American Red Cross will award students in the Red Cord Honors Program with a red honor cord that they may wear during their high school graduation activities with their school’s permission.

Any student at a participating high school holding a Red Cross blood drive is eligible to participate in the Red Cord Honors Program.

Eligible students must donate seven(7) times during their high school career. Students ineligible to donate blood due to age, weight or medical restrictions may be eligible by actively participating as a volunteer with their high school’s blood drive or another blood drive in the community during their high school career. The school’s Red Cross representative will work with each school or school advisor to track participation, identify and recognize eligible students prior to graduation so they may proudly wear the red honor cord during their graduation ceremony.

Benefits to students:

• Provides opportunities to volunteer, either through donating blood or time, which can be used on scholarship and/or job applications.
• Provides opportunities to gain leadership experience by hosting, sponsoring and coordinating a blood drive at your school.
• Provides good feeling that comes from helping save lives and helping others.
• Partner with a non-profit organization to achieve goals and support your community
• Allows students to receive recognition for their voluntary contributions

How the program works:

• Tracking cards and informational brochures will be available from the school advisor and at registration during school-sponsored blood drives.
• Students will have a Red Cross staff member or blood drive advisor date and initial their tracking card every time they donate blood or volunteer for two hours at a Red Cross Blood Drive.
• The card will be dated and initialed by the collections staff during the Health History Process.
• The student will turn in the completed tracking card to the school advisor by an agreed-upon date of their graduating year.
• The advisor will compile a list of students that have earned the award and forward it to their Red Cross Representative.
• The Red Cross Representative will deliver the cords earned to school’s sponsor to be presented to students.
• Students will be able to wear the honor cord during their graduation ceremony or a school-sponsored awards ceremony.
• A step-by-step implementation guide is available with further details.

American Red Cross Contacts