Page 15 - HFA Dateline 2016 Q4 Winter

The History of Blood Brotherhood

By Carl Weixler, excerpted from HFA’s Blood Brotherhood 10th Anniversary Book

The HFA Blood Brotherhood concept started from two Blood was approved, and now we had a way for Blood Brothers around
Brothers talking about how strong this bond was between us, the country to meet in person and online. Some meetings were
but there was no outlet or structure to facilitate that connec- held at HFA’s national annual Symposium and some at local
tion. As the desire to reach out and spend time with our Broth- Member Organizations. These meetings offered educational
ers became stronger, we thought it would be great if HFA, our sessions and fun activities, but more importantly, they offered
consumer-centric national organization, could create a way for time for us to connect to one another about pressing issues
us to connect. Susan Swindle, then HFA Executive Director, as well as past concerns. It makes such a profound difference
heard the request and submitted a grant proposal to the Cen- when you can speak to someone who has walked ten miles in
ters for Disease Control (CDC). Much to our surprise, the grant your shoes.

Blood Brotherhood | Then and Now

2016: Ninety Blood Brotherhood local
sessions delivered at 29 Member
Organizations with more than 1,000
registered Blood Brothers.
2010: Sixty-two Blood Brotherhood local sessions HFA hosts Blood Brotherhood
were held with 11 Member Organization sites Camp Out to celebrate 10 years of
and 182 registered Blood Brothers. Blood Brotherhood!

2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016

2011: Monthly live chats begin 2013: Seventy-three Blood Brotherhood
on the Online Forum. local sessions delivered at 15 Member
Organization with 306 registered
Blood Brothers.

Winter 2016 | Dateline Federation 15