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Melody Yamaguchi’s lifelong service to the Red Cross mission 

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For many people, donating blood to the American Red Cross is not just a single act but a lifelong commitment to the humanitarian mission. Melody Yamaguchi is one of the super donors that has been donating blood since she was 18 years old, after getting inspired by her older sister. Through the changes and challenges in Melody’s life, she always found her way back to serving the mission of the Red Cross.  

Melody’s smile shines through a lifetime of change and challenges.

“During my cancer imaging, surgeries and radiation, my children and I were scared. All my energy went into supporting my children and finding my courage within.”

“I’m not an exceptional person, but through Red Cross blood donation, I’ve had the ability to do something extraordinary.”

–Melody Yamaguchi

Melody embraces the moment in her youth with a timeless look.
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One woman’s road to blood donation supporter begins with a 30-person carpool

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When newlywed Mary Nelson, her husband and about 30 friends met in a Bay Area parking lot one Saturday morning in 1969 to carpool to a blood donation center, little did she know it would lead to a life-long journey dedicated to donating blood.  That journey has provided her with a deep, personal belief in the power of donating.

Mary’s story starts at a popular diner in Alameda, California which Mary and her husband frequented weekly.  One day, they discovered that the diner’s well-liked chef needed emergency kidney surgery.  He required almost 10 pints of blood.  As Mary explains, the chef “had to either pay for the blood or replace it, two pints donated for each used.  So, we got organized.  My husband called the blood bank to see if they did group appointments and scheduled a Saturday. And the bar put up a signup sheet.”

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Razi Aftab: Leading with Purpose and Passion at the American Red Cross 

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Razi Aftab, a first-year student at University of California Los Angeles studying Electrical Engineering and Microbiology, Immunology and Molecular Genetics, is not your average college student. Since December 2021, he has dedicated countless hours to the American Red Cross, rising as a trailblazer in youth volunteerism. His extraordinary commitment was nationally recognized when he received the Navin Narayan Award for Excellence in Youth Leadership at the Red Cross National Awards celebration in Washington, D.C. in April of this year. 

The award, named after the late Navin Narayan—a visionary youth volunteer and advocate—honors one young person annually between the ages of 15 to 24 who demonstrates exceptional leadership, service and dedication to the Red Cross mission. Representing the Northern California Coastal Region, Razi exemplifies these values through his extensive and impactful involvement with the organization at both regional and national levels. 

Razi’s Red Cross journey began during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. Encouraged by his mother and inspired by a desire to give back, he joined the International Humanitarian Law (IHL) Youth Action Campaign. The campaign, which educates youth about the rules of armed conflict, sparked a lasting interest in humanitarian service and opened the door to many more roles within the Red Cross. 

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From Classroom to Community: How a Middle School Teacher Creates a Culture of Service

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In the heart of San Jose’s Evergreen neighborhood, an inkling of inspiration began with one passionate middle school history teacher and grew into a community act of service.

Spencer Archer and two of his 8th grade students, Hadar Philosoph and Jocelyn Yan, greeted blood donors upon arrival.

On Friday, April 18, the Village Square Branch Library hosted its first American Red Cross blood drive thanks to the leadership of Spencer Archer, a 7th and 8th grade history teacher at Quimby Oak Middle School and faculty advisor for the school’s National Junior Honor Society (NJHS).

“I noticed that the Evergreen area didn’t have any local blood drives and wanted to do something about it,” Spencer shared. “I looked up how to host a blood drive and was amazed at how easy the Red Cross made it. From my initial inquiry to event day, the Red Cross team had everything ready to go.”

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From Punjab to Public Service: Amarjot Toor, A Red Cross Youth Volunteer’s Mission for Healthcare Access

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Written By: Amarjot Toor

Growing up in the small town of Jagraon in Punjab, India, Amarjot Toor witnessed firsthand what it means to live without access to basic healthcare. In his rural neighborhood, a doctor’s visit was a luxury many families couldn’t afford. People often turned to home remedies or simply endured their suffering in silence. Conditions like Alzheimer’s, which touched Amarjot’s own family, were deeply misunderstood, mislabeled as superstition or dismissed entirely. There were no local specialists, no awareness campaigns, and no lifelines for those silently struggling.

Amarjot enjoys a sunset view of the bay and Golden Gate Bridge.

These early experiences left a mark that wouldn’t fade. When Amarjot moved to the United States in 2017 as a 6th grader, he carried those memories with him. In 8th grade, during a visit to a Red Cross blood drive in Vacaville, something shifted. He saw how a single unit of donated blood could save lives. He watched how people came together to support strangers they’d never meet. For Amarjot, it sparked a powerful realization: that humanitarian service could make a difference—and that he wanted to be a part of it. 

“Now, I have a chance to be part of something that does more than just raise awareness, it saves lives.” 

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