Remington College Names Singer AJ Green Spokesperson for 2011 Blood Drive Campaign
Green will share his battle with sickle cell disease as part of Remington College effort to increase minority blood donations
Heathrow, Fla. – (March 3, 2011) – AJ Green has performed for two U.S. presidents and shared the stage with Elton John, Bill Cosby and Jennifer Hudson. The talented teenager now has a new mission – helping Remington College with a national effort to increase the number of minority blood donors.
Remington College has partnered with America’s Blood Centers and the Sickle Cell Disease Association of America for a series of blood drives on every Remington College campus. The program is called 3 Lives because three lives may be saved for every one pint of blood donated. The blood drives focus on the need for minority donors – especially African Americans.
Green, 18, knows all about the need for minority blood donors. He has sickle cell disease and his treatment has included ten blood transfusions.
“It is extremely important that people donate blood and keep our blood banks stocked,” said Green. “Having had so many transfusions myself, I am grateful that people donate blood.”
Like Green, many sickle cell patients require frequent blood transfusions – and it’s best for them to receive blood that closely matches their own. According to the Sickle Cell Disease Association of America, African American donors provide blood with unique antigens that is vital for people battling sickle cell and other life-threatening diseases.
Green wants to share his personal story and his music to inspire others.
“I encourage everyone who can to give blood,” he said. “You never know when you or a loved one will need a blood transfusion because of a life-threatening medical situation.”
Green will perform at several Remington College blood drives and personally thank blood donors, as well as raise awareness through public service announcements.
“We’re proud to have AJ as part of our 3 Lives team,” said Jack Forrest, Remington College President and CEO. “We collected more than 2,600 pints of blood last year, and we think AJ will help us in goal of beating that number and saving even more lives this year.”
Based in Heathrow, Florida, Remington College is a non-profit career college that offers diploma and degree programs at 20 campuses throughout the United States. Its mission is to provide career-focused education through a variety of programs, including nursing, cosmetology, business office management and criminal justice.
For more information, call 1-800-448-6405.
About Remington College: Remington College is a common name used by all 20 campuses of a privately-owned, non-profit, post-secondary educational institution with its home office in Heathrow, Florida. Through its campuses, Remington College offers diplomas, bachelor’s and associate’s degrees in a variety of fields, including: cosmetology; nursing; healthcare; criminal justice; business; electronics; information technology; and more. Course offerings vary by campus. Remington Colleges, Inc. and its predecessor companies have been part of the higher education community since 1985. For more information, please visit http://www.remingtoncollege.edu/. For the latest news about Remington College, visit http://today.remingtoncollege.edu/.
About AJ Green: Anthony “AJ” Green, an 18 year old recording artist from Las Vegas, began his musical career at age five. His debut album, “Whatever You Need”, is a mix of R&B, gospel, pop and contemporary Christian songs. Portions of his debut album “Whatever You Need” will go to the Sickle Cell Disease Association of America. He has performed for two U.S. Presidents – Clinton and Obama – and shared the stage with Elton John, the Canadian Tenors, Jason Mraz, Rob Thomas and sang a duet with Jennifer Hudson. Green has battled sickle cell disease since childhood and has been an advocate for the Make-A-Wish Foundation and the Remington College “3 Lives” campaign. For more on AJ Green, visit http://ajsmusicroom.com/.
Media contact:
Frank Wolff
Wellons Communications
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407-637-6000 cell