IPA Holds First Blood Drive with American Red Cross (August 2004)

Contact:
Jennifer Valencia (847) 808-5590,
jennifer.valencia@ipa-c.com

Buffalo Grove, Ill. – More than 40 volunteer donors from IPA participated in the company's first blood drive with the American Red Cross to assist in obtaining donors for the summer months, a historically low time for blood donations.

Blood supplies nationwide at the beginning of July were at their lowest point of the year with most of the country falling below a two-day supply and many below a one-day supply of blood. Blood supplies throughout summer months continue to drop, and more importantly, the need for blood and blood products is rising.

"On behalf of patients in need of blood products and the American Red Cross, we are grateful for IPA's generosity and support in donating blood," said Lawrence Smith, Donor Recruitment Representative for the American Red Cross. "They have helped prolong the lives of patients needing blood products."

The Red Cross is appealing to all individuals to donate blood and is particularly interested in Type O negative blood, the universal blood donor type, since it can be transfused to anyone in cases of emergencies. Anyone at least 17 years of age, weighing 110 pounds or more and in good health may be eligible to donate blood. Please call the American Red Cross at 1-800-GIVE-LIFE (1-800-448-3543) or log on to www.givelife.org and make an appointment today.

The American Red Cross provides nearly half of the nation's blood supply (collecting more than 6 million units a year from volunteer donors) to patients in 3,000 hospitals across the country through its national network. Every two seconds, someone in America needs blood. The Red Cross must collect blood donations each and every day to meet the needs of accident victims, cancer patients and children with blood disorders, and the organization works to accomplish this through its 36 Blood Services regions.

IPA, the largest privately held management consulting and professional services firm for small and medium size businesses in North America, is a leading authority on small business. With more than $250,000,000 in annual revenues, IPA is the 6th largest management consulting company in Chicago and the 61st largest consulting company in the world. IPA offers a wide range of proven and innovative methodologies to help businesses grow and prosper. Additional information is immediately available by visiting http://www.ipa-c.com. The Public Relations Department may be contacted at: telephone (847) 495-6786; facsimile (847) 495-6773.