Youth Engaged in Service (YES), an Ismaili Muslim youth group, recently received an award from The American Red Cross for their efforts resulting in a successful blood drive in Fayette County. 

The blood drive was held on Nov. 12 at Kedron Elementary School where 113 pints of blood were collected. Jodi Phillips, a director at The Red Cross, presented this award in front of an audience of over 1,000 people at the Excellence Award Ceremony at the Atlanta Symphony Hall. She remarked, “When YES called me to request a blood drive to collect over 100 pints I was suspicious. Our typical blood drives collect approximately 35 pints. However, the YES team did just that and even more and collected 113 pints which is equivalent to saving 339 lives.” 

The Excellence Award Ceremony recognizes Ismaili students who have achieved excellence in academics and community service. Georgia Supreme Court Justice Carol Hunstein was the keynote at the event.