Friday Dec 6, 2019

"Helping others by Donating Blood!"

Juan Cotto

Senior Government Affairs and Community Engagement Strategist Bloodworks Northwest

Introduced by: Madeline Gauthier

In the last decade blood donations and regular blood donors have dropped dramatically.   We will discuss the important role of blood donations in our community and the important role they play in health care.  We will also examine how BlooworksNW is working to expand the donor roles.

Donating blood is an easy action you can take which may make all the difference for someone else. Isaac Williams was just one year old when he was diagnosed with life-threatening stage four neuroblastoma. Blood transfusions facilitated through Bloodworks Northwest were a vital part of the treatment that saved Isaac’s life. 

About the Speaker

Juan Cotto is the Senior Government Affairs and Community Engagement Strategist at Bloodworks Northwest. In his previous role as Community Relations Manager with Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Centers, he worked to raise awareness in Seattle’s traditional communities of color about scientific research being conducted at Fred Hutch. Mr. Cotto has also worked to establish programs aimed at increasing pathways for minority youth in scientific fields by establishing relationships and partnerships with Seattle’s Technology Access Foundation, Rainier Scholars and the Seattle Public Schools.

Mr. Cotto is a Seattle native who attended 12 years of Archdiocesan Catholic Schools and graduated from O’Dea High School in 1983. He received his Bachelor degree in Social Science from Western Oregon State College where he played baseball and was elected Student Body President and President of the Multi-Cultural Student Union. He is also a highly respected High School football coach. Mr. Cotto and his wife Sara reside in the Leschi neighborhood of Seattle with their son Clemente and daughter Araceli.