The Barnett San Antonio National Pan-Hellenic Council, also known as the Divine Nine, has been honored with the 2025 Outstanding Blood Drive of the Year Award from America’s Blood Centers for their minority blood drives. This recognition highlights how diverse donors play a crucial role in meeting patient needs and underscores the lifesaving impact of inclusive blood donation efforts in South Texas.
Scott Earle, leader of the organization, mentioned the accolade during the Aug. 27 Northeast Donor Center’s ribbon cutting – but he focused his speech on the importance of blood donation in the community.
Earle has championed for blood donation across his fraternity and has spearheaded the Divine Nine Blood challenge for the past few years, encouraging hundreds of donations from African-Americans.
“Why a minority blood drive?” Earle said. “Many times, people say that, and that blood is ‘colorless, it’s all red.’ Through research in the African-American community, only 2% give blood. How do we get the data we need for sickle cell and things like that?
“So yes, color matters and that’s why minority blood drives are important, especially in South Texas.”
Earle gives blood 10 times a year, and his family donates as well.
“My children come home on vacation, and they got to give blood with their dad,” he laughed.
America’s Blood Centers recognized Earle as an outstanding leader for “excellence in supporting the nation’s blood supply” and lauded the Divine Nine as “a model for other groups to follow.”
“The Council was able to reach a diverse group of potential donors, significantly boosting participation rates. Their success demonstrates the power of community-drive initiatives in addressing critical healthcare needs,” America Blood Centers stated online.
Earle was honored in Washington, D.C., during the ABC Annual Meeting.
