Heart Beat Your Community Blood Center Newsletter | Winter 2011 IN THIS ISSUE: Big-hearted golf fans set to tee off at Bonfils’ annual golf benefit this summer - page 14. Honoring 30-year partnerships for the benefit of the community - page 5. Reflections to celebrate: Surviving cancer, setting high gallon records and support to the U.S. military’s blood supply - pages 2 & 3. Take an educational journey through the steps needed to transform lifesaving blood products for patients in need - page 11.
Transcript
Heart BeatYour Community Blood Center Newsletter | Winter 2011
IN T
HIS
ISSU
E:
Big-hearted golf fans set to tee off
at Bonfils’ annual golf benefit this
summer - page 14.
Honoring 30-year partnerships
for the benefit of the
community - page 5.
Reflections to celebrate: Surviving
cancer, setting high gallon records
and support to the U.S. military’s
blood supply - pages 2 & 3.
Take an educational journey
through the steps needed to
transform lifesaving blood products
for patients in need - page 11.
Hand in hand we save and enhance lives. In fact, as many
as 456,000 patients in our community and beyond benefited
last year as a result of your support of Bonfils Blood Center’s
mission. An impressive 152,000 blood donations were collected
at Bonfils’ community donor centers and at more than 2,400
blood drives hosted by more than 1,000 businesses, civic groups
and faith-based organizations across the state in 2010.
Contributions from blood and marrow donors, blood drive hosts,
financial contributors, volunteers, community and healthcare
partners made many other notable accomplishments possible
last year.- More than 14,000 blood donors put their
best arm forward in celebration of National
Blood Donor Month in January.
- A dozen blood drive hosts including high
schools, churches and corporations were
honored throughout the year with 30 Years
of Saving Lives awards for hosting blood
drives over the span of three decades.
- In March, Bonfils joined the growing list
of blood centers to donate blood products to
aid victims of the earthquake that struck
Haiti in January.
- Bonfils’ Colorado Marrow Donor
Program (CMDP) partnered with CBS4
to promote Donate Life Month in April which exists to raise
awareness of the need for blood, marrow, organ and tissue
donations and financial contributions. The month culminated
with a special Day4Life event that added more than 160
potential donors to the Be The
Match Registry®.
- Twenty-three-year-old cancer
survivor Nate Post thanked 24
of his lifesaving blood donors at
our annual Community Lifelines
event. Medical experts from
Porter Adventist Hospital where
Nate was treated also expressed
their gratitude to donors for
helping them save lives.
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Saving Lives Together – A Year in Review...
Bonfils celebrated Day4Life with a special marrow and
fundraising drive.
Units of blood are prepared in
Bonfils’ production area for
shipment to Haiti victims.
3
- Bill Cell commemorated World Blood Donor Day and set
a Bonfils record when he reached the 75-gallon donation
milestone on June 14, 2010.
- Bonfils stood at the ready to support the U.S. military’s blood
needs with a shipment in August. Bonfils remains one of only
eight blood centers in the nation, through a partnership with
the Department of Defense, to supply blood to the military
when called upon.
- Castle View, Overland and George Washington high schools
were each recognized in early September for recruiting the
most first-time donors through our High School Heroes blood
drive program.
- October played host to more than 1,600 fans and lifesavers
who turned out for Drive for Life XIII. Nearly 30 active
players, alumni and cheerleaders supported the drive by
signing autographs and giving blood.
- Two veteran donors, Ned Habich and Jodi Muser (see feature
story on page 4), made landmark 60-gallon donations during
the latter part of the year.
- Santa Claus stopped by in December to give his regular
holiday blood donation to help kick off our annual winter
donation campaign.
- Finally, our CMDP successfully
recruited more than 3,500
potential donors including 800
important ethnic minorities
to the Be The Match Registry®
throughout 2010 and raised more
than $80,000 – funds which will
be used to cover the cost of adding
registrants this year.
For nearly 70 years, Bonfils Blood
Center has successfully managed
the community blood supply and
played an integral role in Colorado’s
healthcare system. Yet, achieving
Bonfils’ mission of saving and enhancing lives requires
assistance from blood donors and financial benefactors. Bonfils
Blood Center Foundation’s contributions are secured through
grant awards, corporate gifts, planned giving activities and
targeted fundraising events. In April, nearly 250 community
members attended the annual Because Life Happens breakfast
while another 100 participated in the Chip in for Life golf outing
in August to benefit the blood center. From the smallest gifts to
the largest bequest to date of $1 million to build an automated
donation center, the foundation and its supporters help to
realize Bonfils Blood Center’s vision of advancing healthcare to
a higher level of excellence.
Rapids Rally for Donors marrow
recruitment event in partnership
with the Colorado Rapids.
What do blood, balloons and lapel pins all have in common? All were part of the recognition celebrations of committed lifelong donors Ned Habich and Jodi Muser in their accomplishment of reaching the 60-gallon milestone. Last year, both were honored on the day of their 480th blood donation with a lapel pin with a ruby chip. Ned and Jodi are among the few Bonfils donors to reach this high-gallon achievement, Jodi being Bonfils’ first woman to do so.
Jodi’s donation journey started in the early 1960s at age 18, donating blood for the first time when her boss had surgery. She later converted to platelet donations when Bonfils began offering the option in 1993. Despite a knee surgery in January
2009 which precluded her from donating for a year, Jodi was still determined to return to blood donation and meet her high-gallon goal.
At the urging of his mother, Ned gave his first blood donation as a high school student in 1963 at a community blood drive in Miami, Ariz. Ned continued his lifesaving habit and began donating platelets with Bonfils after he moved to Colorado in 1990.
The habit of generosity surges through Ned and Jodi’s veins. Together, their selfless donations have saved and enhanced the lives of as many as 2,800 patients in need. Ned and Jodi encourage others to help the community, as both are true inspirations to all blood donors.
Giving the Gift of Life 480 Times Over
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On Monday, Jan. 17, 2011 Bonfils will host our 8th annual Community Partner Appreciation Reception in the Seawell Ballroom at the Denver Center for the Performing Arts. The event will honor nearly 700 donors who have reached 10 gallons or more in 2010, as well as financial contributors, community and healthcare partners, marrow donors, Bonfils ambassadors, gold level blood-drive host organizations and volunteers.
In 2010, Bonfils accomplished so much and we are proud to honor these achievements with the dedicated supporters who make our lifesaving work possible. Five awards will be given to the following members of the Bonfils community who went above and beyond in 2010:
• Colorado Marrow Donor Program Outstanding Partner – Presented to Poudre Valley Medical Center for providing support to Bonfils’ CMDP and contributing to public awareness about marrow/stem cell donation.
• Outstanding Blood Drive Partner Award – Presented to Spirit of Christ Catholic Church for their significant achievement in the areas of growth, donor participation, volunteer and liaison support, creativity in promotion and overall performance of their blood drive program.
• Dr. Ben Galloway Community Partner Award – Presented to Lincoln Financial Media, a community organization that has demonstrated a strong commitment to Bonfils Blood Center during the last year which resulted in enhanced understanding of Bonfils and increased participation in our programs.
• Foundation Leadership Award – Presented to Brigadier General (Retired) Edwin S. Wittbrodt by the Bonfils Blood Center Foundation for being an exemplary supporter.
• Volunteer of the Year Award – Presented to Katie Barger, Niwot High School, who has gone above and beyond in supporting Bonfils in a volunteer capacity throughout the last year.
Community Partner
Appreciation CELEBRATION
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30blood drives to celebrate
of saving livesyearsThank you and congratulations to the following
organizations that will celebrate 30 years of saving lives in their community through hosting blood drives with Bonfils Blood Center. Collectively, these organizations have positively impacted the lives of nearly 53,000 patients in our community and beyond.
CovidienKaiser Permanente - Westminster
Las Animas CommunityLimon Community
Northglenn High School
Our Father Lutheran ChurchSmoky Hill Senior High SchoolThornton High SchoolU.S.D.A. Food and Nutrition Services
Comedy WorksDairy QueenDenver BroncosDenver ZooDominos Pizza Double Tree Hotel DenverDowntown Aquarium Einstein Bros. BagelsEmbassy Suites HotelFM Sports Radio 104.3
Colorado*KeyBank FoundationMile High United Way*Poudre Valley Health System
FoundationThe Comcast FoundationVirginia W. Hill Charitable
FoundationWalter and Elizabeth Lipe Trust
*donor-designated gifts
THANK YOU TO THE FOLLOWING BENEFACTORSFINANCIAL GIFTS AND GRANTS RECEIVED JULY 1, 2010 - OCTOBER 31, 2010
This winter, Bonfils reminds you that giving of yourself is the best gift of all. Resolve to save lives by giving blood and you’ll provide hope for patients in need and warm the hearts of their families and friends.
Help us celebrate National Blood Donor Month in January by becoming one of the nearly 3,000 blood donors required each week to meet the needs of our community and be prepared for both unexpected and seasonal events, such as flu season. All donors who give blood now through Saturday, Jan. 22, will receive a cozy long-sleeve t-shirt (while supplies last).
Call 303.363.2300 or 800.356.0006, opt. 2 or visit www.bonfils.org to schedule your appointment online to give blood.
WINTER’S TIME TO
CELEBRATE LIFE
BE WARM. BE MERRY AND BRIGHT. BE A BLOOD DONOR.
Proud sponsor of National Blood Donor Month in January
ailings such as this, you may call us at 303.739.4000 or em
ail foundation@
bonfils.org. Bonfils B
lood Center Foundation is a 501(c)(3) charitable organization. M
ost contributions are tax deductible to the full extent allow
ed by the law.
IT’S A FACT: one whole blood donation can save and enhance the lives of up to three patients. But, did you know financial gifts are another way to make a meaningful impact in Bonfils’ lifesaving mission?
In 2010, Bonfils collected 152,000 units of blood that benefited up to 456,000 patients in our community and beyond. Collecting, processing, testing and distributing blood products are no small tasks. It takes a team of nearly 400 professionals working 24 hours a day, seven days a week and $132,000 each day to operate the blood center’s programs and services to fulfill our commitment to the Colorado community.
Giving blood is just one way to help save a life. That is why Bonfils Blood Center’s Foundation, the fundraising arm of the blood center, seeks financial contributions to support the state-of-the-art equipment, maintain our facilities and provide programs, education and services to the community. Many of these contributions are secured through grant awards, corporate gifts, planned giving activities and targeted fundraising events.
Recently, the new Leadership Society was created for benefactors who make an annual gift of $1000 or more. The Leadership Society exemplifies a benefactor’s dedication to help ensure the work of Bonfils lives on to touch the lives of patients in need and to make tomorrow’s dreams today’s realities.
A few of the benefits include:
• Invitationstospecialevents
• RecognitioninBonfils’publicationsincluding the Heartbeat newsletter and the annual report
• TheopportunitytoconnectwithotherLeadership Society members — people who share the same passion of ensuring a safe and adequate blood supply
This opportunity is just one of the many ways that your vision for the future and your commitment to Bonfils will help countless patients who depend on blood products for open-heart surgeries, cancer therapies, treatment of blood disorders and organ transplants.
Recognizing our generous benefactors who support Bonfils is our priority in 2011. This winter, a new recognition wall will be unveiled in the entrance at Bonfils’ Lowry Headquarters which will highlight top life-time benefactors, high-gallon donors and other supporters.
MAKING TOMORROW’S
DREAMS, TODAY’S REALITIES
Because everyone’s giving situation is unique, Bonfils offers multiple ways to support the foundation to help ensure we maximize philanthropic impact in a way that offers the most tax benefit. For more information about funding priorities, the Leadership Society or to make a financial contribution, please contact [email protected] or call 303.261.2820.
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TOURS AND PRESENTATIONSJoin us! Bonfils offers a variety of free resources to educate schools, corporate and community groups interested in learning more about our lifesaving work.
Learn about the important role blood plays in sustaining life at a My Blood, Your Blood presentation. This free educational resource is offered to elementary, middle and high school students as well as youth-based community groups. This informative program is produced by
America’s Blood Centers, the association of independent U.S. blood centers, to give students information about blood components, circulation and the importance of blood donation.
For more information about the My Blood, Your Blood program or to schedule a tour at Bonfils Blood Center’s Headquarters please contact [email protected] or call 303.363.2377.
THANK YOU FOR MAKING A DIFFERENCEIN OUR COMMUNITY
Thank you to the following Gold Level Blood Drive Hosts for achieving an average of 90 percent or above donor participation for blood drives.Alex Jaso
Replenishment DriveAllied InsuranceArapahoe County
AdministrationArapahoe County
CourthouseArapahoe County Sheriff’s
OfficeArvada Covenant ChurchAscension Lutheran
ChurchBall Aerospace &
Technologies Corp. BI IncorporatedCallahan Capital PartnersCapital IQ CompustatCH2M HillCIGNA Corp.Colorado CasualtyColorado Department of
Labor and EmploymentColorado Mental Health
Institute - Fort LoganColorado Sickle Cell
AssociationColumbine High SchoolComcast Business
Services - Fulton St.Denver Public Library -
University Hills BranchDepartment of Corrections
Denver ComplexDevelopmental PathwaysE-470 Public Highway
AuthorityElavonFlorence High SchoolFourway Baptist ChurchFront Range Christian
SchoolGolden Farmers MarketHoly Family High SchoolHorizon High SchoolJones InternationalJosh Frank
Replenishment Drive
Kennedy High SchoolLafayette Community
Peach FestivalLewan & AssociatesMcClave High SchoolMental Health Center of
DenverMoffat County High
SchoolMontbello High SchoolMountain Range High
SchoolNational Entertainment
NetworkNational Jewish HealthOracleOur Lady of the VisitationParkridge Merrill LynchPhilip S. Miller LibraryPonderosa High SchoolPueblo West High SchoolQuadrant BuildingQualcommRocky Vista UniversitySilver Creek High SchoolSkyline High SchoolSummit County ElksTara Jamison
Replenishment DriveTemple SinaiThe Shaw GroupThornton High SchoolTrapper DaysTrapper Mining CompanyUniversity of Colorado -
Evans Scholar HouseWestern Area Power
Administration
Thank you to the following Silver Level Blood Drive Hosts for achieving an average of 80-89 percent donor participation for blood drives.Abiding Hope Lutheran
ChurchAdams County
Administration BuildingAdams County Attorney’s
OfficeAdams State College
Aerospace Data FacilityAir MethodsAkron CommunityAll Souls Catholic ChurchAmerican Family
InsuranceAmgen - BoulderAnthem Blue Cross/Blue
ShieldApex CenterAronowitz &
Mecklenburg, LLPArvada CommunityAspen Grove Hallmark
StoreAtlas PacificAurora Loan ServicesBACKCOUNTRY
BREWERYBennett High SchoolBishop Machebeuf High
SchoolBreckenridge CommunityBrookfield PropertiesBroomfield High SchoolBurlington CommunityCatholic Health InitiativesCelestial SeasoningsCentennial High SchoolCentennial Medical PlazaCharles SchwabCity of Boulder Public
SafetyCity of LakewoodCity of Lone TreeCity of WestminsterColorado Department
of Personnel and Administration
Colorado State University Colorado State
University - PuebloColumbine LibraryCotopaxi High SchoolCraig CommunityDean Foods/WhiteWave
FoodsDeer Trail CommunityDenver Health HospitalDenver Public Library -
Main BranchDIRECTVEads High SchoolEvergreen Library
Fairview High SchoolFaith Community
Church - LittletonFamily Campers & RVersFountain Fort Carson High
SchoolFrederic PrintingFrontier Airlines GOGolden High SchoolGranite PropertiesImmaculate Conception
ChristOppenheimer FundsPeterson Air Force BasePickens Technical CollegePrairie View High SchoolPresbyterian and United
Churches of Broomfield
Qwest Communications International
Rampart and Water Systems, Inc.
Rangeview High SchoolRaytheon Polar ServicesRegis University Student
CenterSky Ridge Medical CenterSmoky Hill LibrarySounds TrueSt. Andrew Methodist
ChurchSt. Theresa Catholic
Church - FrederickSt. Thomas More Parish
CenterStaples, Inc.Starbucks - North
LongmontSterling Correctional
FacilityStolle MachinerySun Harley Davidson/
BuellSunflower Farmers
MarketTen West - Westmoor
Technology ParkThe Integer GroupThompson Valley High
SchoolTo The RescueTown of SuperiorTransFirstTranswestern -
Sherman St.Transwestern Broadreach
1999, LLCTri-State Generation &
Transmissiontw telecom - QuebecU.S. Fish and Wildlife
ServicesUCAR/NCAR - Center
GreenUniversity of Colorado -
School of LawUniversity of Colorado
Denver - AurariaVail Community -
Arrabelle at Vail SquareWalmart - Castle Rock
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National Donor Day, Feb. 14Instead of flowers and candy, give a truly heartfelt gift to your community this Valentine’s Day – the gift of life. Bonfils invites you to celebrate National Donor Day on Feb. 14, 2011 by giving something of yourself. Various donation options include giving blood, joining the Be The Match Registry® through Bonfils’
Colorado Marrow Donor Program, registering to become an organ and tissue donor and making a financial contribution to Bonfils Blood Center Foundation. Visit www.bonfils.org to learn more about these donation opportunities.
Thanks to the following companies and organizations for being an important part of our lifesaving mission. Collectively, their blood drives (August - November 2010) generated more than 51,000 units of donated blood for our community blood supply. Their generosity and support is appreciated by hundreds of patients every day. Bonfils Blood Center regularly uses 97 percent of donated blood. When you give blood you can be assured it’s needed and used efficiently.
Walmart - ElizabethWarren TechWestern State CollegeWestminster High SchoolWestwood College OnlineWestwoods Community
ChurchXcel Energy - LARYampa Valley Medical
CenterYMCA of the Rockies -
Estes ParkZion Lutheran Church
Thank you to the following Bronze Level Blood Drive Hosts for achieving an average of 70-79 percent donor participation for blood drives.AAA ColoradoAdams City High SchoolAdvanced CircuitsAlamosa CommunityAmerican Water Works
AssociationAmgen - LongmontAnthem Highlands
Community AssociationArickaree CommunityArvada Elks & American
LegionAvaya Communications -
WestminsterAvista HospitalBear Creek High SchoolB’Nai Chaim TempleBoulder Valley Christian
ChurchBoulder Valley SchoolsBroomfield United
Methodist ChurchBrownstein Hyatt Farber
Schreck, P.C.Buena Vista CommunityCableLabsCalvary Church -
LongmontCalvary Community
Baptist ChurchCañon City High SchoolCaridianBCTCentaurus High School
Chaparral High SchoolChatfield High SchoolCherry Creek PlazaThe Church of Jesus
Christ of Latter-day Saints - Denver North Stake
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints - Littleton Stake
Church of the Risen Christ
City and County of Broomfield
City and County of DenverCity of Louisville Senior
ServicesCity of ThorntonColorado Access Colorado Department of
St. Michael the ArchangelStandley Lake LibraryState of Colorado
MVD-DECSundyne CorporationSunrise Medical The 410 BuildingThe Denver PostThe Hillcrest of LovelandThe Inverness Hotel and
Conference CenterThe Outlets at LovelandTIAA-CREFTown of Parker - Town
HallTravelportTriad Office ParkTrust Company of
Americatw telecomU.S. Department of
CommerceU.S.D.A. Food and
Nutrition ServicesUCAR/NCAR - Foothills
LabUnited Launch AllianceUniversity of Colorado University of Colorado -
Engineering CenterUniversity of Colorado
Denver - Facilities Management
URS CorporationVail Board of RealtorsViaero WirelessWalmart - Loveland SouthWalmart - ParkerWest Bowles Community
ChurchWest PointWestern UnionWestminster Christian
ChurchWestminster Church of
the NazareneWorld Trade CenterXcel Energy - Pawnee
Power PlantXILINX
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Changes In Donor Eligibility RequirementsBonfils recently implemented changes to its policy surrounding body piercing deferrals that could increase the pool of eligible donors. Previously, donors were ineligible to give blood for 12 months if the piercing was not performed in a physician’s office using a single-use needle. Effective Monday, Oct. 25, 2010, the new policy states that donors who have had a piercing within
the last 12 months, in which a single-use sterile needle was used, are eligible to donate. If a single-use needle was not used, the donor will be deferred for one year from the date of the piercing. Places like Claire’s stores and similar establishments are now acceptable. This revised piercing policy is in alignment with the FDA’s guidelines and its Universal Donor Health Questionnaire.
Bonfils is among the first centers in the nation to participate in this cutting-edge medical treatment whereby a patient’s own white blood cells are harvested and later mixed with a drug designed to target prostate cancer cells and then re-infused into each patient’s own treated blood.
To date, physicians from four local cancer treatment centers have referred seven patients to Bonfils to collect the cells needed to make PROVENGE®. The first was Dave H. who hails from Silver Cliff, Colo. located about 50 miles west of Pueblo. Dave was surprised by his diagnosis of prostate cancer in 2007 since he participated in regular health screenings which did not indicate signs of the disease. Dave endured typical treatments to combat the cancer for months following his diagnosis. Then a college friend who resides in the Seattle area told him about a company working on a drug to treat prostate cancer. That drug was Dendreon’s PROVENGE®.
Dave discussed the treatment option with his physician and he made his first visit to Bonfils in June for his first of three collections of white blood cells. Dave’s wife commented that she noticed that the immunotherapy gave him a boost of energy after each infusion. Additionally, Dave revealed that his prostate-specific antigen count continues to shrink. This fall, Dave and his wife enjoyed an extended vacation in the east including hikes in the Great Smoky Mountain National Park and a visit to Hilton Head, SC. We wish Dave and his family the best and look forward to providing help and hope to more patients battling against the disease.
Bonfils is proud to partner with Dendreon on this exciting medical breakthrough. Dendreon is already working to expand this type of cellular therapy to treat a variety of other cancers and we hope to grow our partnership to support those efforts.
Bonfils Expands Support To Cancer PatientsLast May, Bonfils embarked on an exciting role to support prostate cancer patients through a partnership with a Seattle-based pharmaceutical company, Dendreon which created a “vaccine” called PROVENGE® to help treat advanced stages of the cancer.
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Dave undergoing a collection at Bonfils’ Lowry Donor Center
Bonfils Blood Center’s 8th annual Chip in for Life golf benefit will tee off on Monday, Aug. 1, at Glenmoor Country Club in Cherry Hills Village. Last year’s tournament raised nearly $75,000 to support the lifesaving work of Bonfils Blood Center and we hope to surpass that amount this year.
To link up your passion for golf and giving back to the community by becoming a tournament sponsor, golfer or volunteer, contact [email protected] or call 303.361.3100.SA
VE T
HE D
ATE
∙ S
AVE
THE
DATE
Thanks to the tried and true Broncos fans, blood donors and community partners who took part in Drive for Life XIII. The state’s largest single-day blood drive collected more than 1,200 lifesaving units through pre-event collections and 721 event day donations. Additionally, 21 generous individuals gave a double red cell donation, or two donations at once, and 205 potential new donors were blood typed at the event. The blood typed “donors on reserve” were eligible for an exclusive yearlong Broncos Country Donor Club membership. Bonfils’ Colorado Marrow Donor Program was also successful in registering 106 potential marrow donors to the Be The Match Registry®.
“We are thrilled with the results of Drive for Life XIII. Broncos fans turned out en masse to support our mission of saving and enhancing lives and to meet nearly 30 players and more than a dozen alumni and cheerleaders,” said Jessica Maitland, vice president of marketing and community operations for Bonfils Blood Center. “The 721 units we collected at the drive coupled with pre-event donations and those collected at three of our donor centers supported thousands of patients in need. We are grateful for the community’s ongoing support of our premier community event and look forward to Drive for Life XIV.”
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MissionIn partnership with our community,
Bonfils Blood Center saves and enhances lives.
VisionAs a premier, community-focused blood center, we advance
healthcare to a higher level of excellence.
Go green. Subscribe to the Heartbeat eNewsletter by visiting www.bonfils.org.
Find us on Facebook at http://bonfils.org/facebook or follow us on Twitter @bonfilsdotorg for real-time information
about news and events.
Editor: Brooke Benham 303.341.4000, opt. 3 or 800.365.0006, opt. 3
