Making life-saving blood donations accessible in Southern Ontario

Every day our bodies create it, but every day a person in Canada needs more than their own to survive. Blood is in us to give—easily and pain-free. That’s why Karlo Visaticki, Manager in the Professional Practice Group, organized and led the first blood drive for his business unit as part of the Greater Purpose Program in November 2023. Rallying first-time and regular donors, he made it easy and accessible for everyone to participate through an online booking portal.  

Inspired by a friend’s annual blood drive during Halloween, he says aside from being afraid of needles, people often can’t find the time to get out and donate. By making donating easy for his colleagues during the workday, he was able to get 10 people to give blood and motivated many to become regular donors. He also inspired other offices to coordinate their own blood drives. 

“Giving blood was easier than I thought it would be,” says Patrick Carson, Partner in Assurance. “It felt great knowing that less than one hour of my time has saved as many as three people’s lives.”  

“This was my first time ever donating blood and the experience was fantastic,” says Paula Azocar, Senior Accountant in IBG. “The entire process was seamless, painless, and faster than I expected! It warms my heart knowing that this donation has such a big impact on the lives of other people in our country.” 

Karlo says he wants to continue the drive every year, making it a team-building event and expanding it across more offices. His aim is to get enough donors for a mobile clinic through Canadian Blood Services to reach as many colleagues as possible. 

“Giving blood is an easy way to give back to our communities,” says Karlo. “It’s also something money can’t buy.” 

“I don’t have a life-changing story about blood. I just feel it’s something not enough people do and it’s so easy for them to make an impact. Once you get over the anxiety and get familiar with the process, you’ll become a regular donor. Your blood can make a huge difference in someone’s life because there’s always a shortage of blood—it’s always needed.” 

-    Karlo Visaticki, Manager, Doane Grant Thornton LLP