Lower Merion High School’s Bryant Gymnasium recently played host to the Aces’ annual Community Blood Drive benefiting the American Red Cross as students, staff and community members came out in droves to support this year’s event.

More than 70 students helped to organize this year’s drive, all under the guidance of longtime, legendary LMHS teacher and coach Sandy Hoopes, who has been overseeing this massive yearly undertaking for four decades! The first blood drive spearheaded by Hoopes dates all the way back to 1983.

The event would not have been possible without the tremendous leadership demonstrated by students throughout the entire process. Special thanks to senior co-presidents of the LMHS Blood Drive Club Sydney Grunfeld and Danielle Itkin-Ofer, as well as juniors Sydney Piskai, Piper Slogoff and Scarlett Vernacchio.

All told, the Aces collected more than 85 pints of blood, which will help save more than 250 lives through the American Red Cross! To find an American Red Cross Blood Drive in your area, click here! To see a slideshow of images from the blood drive, click below!

**Special thanks to senior co-presidents of the LMHS Blood Drive Club Sydney Grunfeld and Danielle Itkin-Ofer for all of their hard work and the tremendous leadership they displayed throughout the entire process!**