Giving Together: A Portrait of Dan Steffen & Anne Giesecke

By Laura Shoemaker | October 2021

Every eight weeks, Dan Steffen and Anne Giesecke go on an unusual date—to the Suncoast Blood Center, where they roll up their sleeves and donate life-giving blood. 

If you live in the Sarasota area, you’ve probably driven by one of the Suncoast Blood Centers or seen the bloodmobile parked around town. Inside one of the six regional centers or one of the air-conditioned vehicles, you’ll find state-of-the-art donation equipment, comfortable donor beds, caring staff, and of course, post-donation snacks and refreshments. Suncoast Blood Centers has been supplying the region’s hospitals with blood products for over 70 years. And for the past decade, so have Dan and Anne.

When the couple began living in Sarasota full-time in 2010, they started looking for ways to become more involved in the community, and specifically, to support causes that are meaningful to them. Dan and Anne’s careers were related to health and nutrition. Dan, who has a Ph.D. in physiology, worked in the food and nutrition industry for such companies as Kraft and General Foods. Anne, who holds her Ph.D. in Anthropology, held roles in the Environmental Protection Agency and the American Bakers Association. 

Retiring to Sarasota, their philanthropic efforts here began with the couple donating money to All Faiths Food Bank and Suncoast Blood Centers. Dan explains that being financial donors was just the start. They both had careers and accomplishments that made it possible for them to retire in Sarasota. Now, in addition to some extra money, they had time to give, too. So, they began to go on “dates” to donate blood together.

ENCOURAGING OTHERS

“It doesn’t cost you anything to give blood,” says Anne, adding that she also appreciates how Suncoast Blood Centers directly benefits the local community by collecting some 40,000 units of blood annually. These donations are then distributed locally to patients in area hospitals. The Suncoast Blood Centers also participates in a national program that supplies blood donations to military patients. Dan comments that he and Anne “like to be responsible citizens.” The couple is also not shy about encouraging others to contribute, whether or not they live in Sarasota.

For example: One time while his son was visiting from New Jersey, Dan took him, where else? To a blood drive! Dan was proud when the younger man told the staff person reviewing his registration paperwork, “I’ll give a double,” meaning not just one, but two units of blood. Whereas a whole blood donation usually takes about 10 or 15 minutes, it is possible to donate two units at once, using a special process called “red cell apheresis.” This process removes only the red blood cells, returning the other fluids back into the donor’s body. While it allows for a larger donation, the process does take a little longer. 

On another occasion, the couple picked up a friend from the SRQ Airport who had come to visit them from Nebraska. As they were driving from the airport, they passed the Suncoast Blood Center on Mound Street, near the intersection of Osprey Avenue. Seeing the sign requesting donations, their friend mentioned that she had one of the more rare blood types, A negative, and she might be interested in donating blood on her visit. So, instead of taking her home as planned, they took her out to lunch. You see, it’s not a good idea to give blood on an empty stomach, and Dan and Anne were going to take her to Suncoast to make a donation—all before they had gotten her home to unpack her bags! 

Dan and Anne have recruited neighbors, friends, and family to donate blood. According to the Suncoast Blood Centers website, it’s volunteer donors like these who provide nearly all blood used in transfusions in the nation. Dan and Anne are adamant that donating blood, for most people, is simple, taking 15-20 minutes, tops. The paperwork, they joke, takes longer than the blood donation itself. 

And what does the couple say to people who are squeamish around blood? Anne, as it happens, doesn’t like needles or the sight of blood—especially her own. She advises talking to the person who is taking the donation about your fears. “The phlebotomists are so accommodating,” she explains. “They give a warning before they begin and will even place a towel over my arm, so I can’t see.”

GIVING TAKES MANY FORMS

About five years ago, after returning from a trip to Mexico, Dan learned that he would have to pause his blood donations for a while. It turns out that exposure to some blood-borne illnesses, such as Chagas disease, which is caused by a parasite that lives on a certain insect, can occur when travelling internationally to certain parts of the world. This event was a turning point. Still wanting to contribute in some way, Dan started volunteering as a courier for Suncoast Blood Centers. He’s never stopped.

Once or twice a week he picks up blood product that is specially packed in ice (whole blood) or dry ice (frozen convalescent plasma) and delivers the life-giving substances to one of several area hospitals or cancer treatment centers. 

Though the couple is clearly enthusiastic about volunteering for Suncoast Blood Centers, they still joke that all the chores at home are now done by Anne because “Dan is out driving for Suncoast!” Jokes aside, Anne emphasizes that there exist several “opportunities to do things for other people and make a personal contribution,” at Suncoast Blood Centers, whether that is giving blood, couriering, working as a volunteer, or a combination of activities. 

As their involvement has grown over the years from monetary contributors, to “stick your arm out,” to volunteering their time, the couple became known as a very special kind of supporters. Joan Leonard, Community Engagement Coordinator at Suncoast Blood Centers, calls Dan and Anne “trifecta donors”—those cherished supporters who give their blood and their time, along with their financial support.

When asked about what they’re proudest of, they both nod towards their careers, but talk more specifically about the importance of family. “Family,” Anne says, “is very grounding.” Dan’s first wife passed away and his four grown kids and their families still live in New Jersey. Anne supported and took care of her sister and mother during both women’s end-of-life illnesses, of which she says, “I did the right thing for them.” This focus on others seems to be mirrored in the myriad ways the couple supports Suncoast Blood Centers. “We wanted to find a good organization to give to,” explains Dan, about their philanthropy. 

Dan and Anne say they feel lucky and fortunate for their families, their careers, and their retirement in Sarasota. They’re a couple who are clearly happy together, and happy to be able to give back.

FOR MORE INFORMATION about the Suncoast Blood Centers, please visit suncoastblood.org or call 941.954.1600.