A Familial Spirit of Giving

By Gina Chiri-Osmond • October 24, 2018

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Laura Raseman White grew up in an environment where helping others was part of the lifestyle, a household mentality.

“My whole family was always volunteering, doing charity work, and donating whatever we could, whether it was time or money,” she says. “We were always looking for ways to help others in our community and beyond.”

So it wasn’t a concern at all for Laura, a laboratory tech in Mayo’s Special Coagulation Laboratory, when she first gave blood as a teen back in high school. And she’s kept on donating ever since. During college, she did so via American Red Cross blood drives. Then in 2006, the year she started her career at Mayo Clinic, she began to donate at the Blood Donor Center as a walk-in. She puts a note on her calendar to donate about every 12 weeks.

“A few coworkers and I donate regularly, if we’re able to,” says Laura. “And we always try to encourage others to give it a try if they haven’t done it before.”

Passing the Altruistic Torch

Meanwhile, Laura is trying to pass down her family’s charitable tradition to her five-year-old daughter, who recently helped Laura and her husband fill food bags in Stewartville, on behalf of the Kiwanis and Food for Kidz. And as far as donating blood someday?

“She understands I work in a hospital, and part of that work involves caring for patients,” says Laura. “But I’m also showing her that donating blood goes beyond my work; it’s an easy way we can help someone in need.”

How to Donate
For more information about donating blood in Olmsted County in Rochester, Minnesota, call (507) 284-4475 or email donateblood@mayo.edu. For more information about the Mayo Clinic Blood Donor Center, visit the Blood Donor Center blog, the Blood Donor Center website, and/or like the center on Facebook.

Gina Chiri-Osmond

Gina Chiri-Osmond is a Marketing Channel Manager at Mayo Clinic Laboratories.