“Relationship violence is an issue relevant to ourselves, our families and friends, and our community,” said Tee Rogers, coordinator of UCF’s United Way Campaign. “It is crucial to the health of our university and community to have intentional conversations and to support solution-focused community resources.”

According to a survey by the National Center for Injury Prevention and Control, one in four women and one in seven men have been the victims of physical violence by an intimate partner.

Moderated by Karen Hofmann, director of UCF Counseling and Psychological Services, the expert panelists addressed questions from their unique perspectives. The panel included Michael Freeman, counselor and professor; Adam Pritchard, professor of sociology; Bibi Brown, crisis specialist with United Way 2-1-1; Katelyn Busowski, domestic-violence survivor, advocate and UCF student; and Christine Mouton, director of UCF Victim Services.

In addition to the panel discussion, Heart of Florida United Way, UCF CARES, UCF Victim Services, domestic-violence survivor and author Debra Perleberg, Harbor House of Central Florida, Help Now of Osceola, and SafeHouse of Seminole provided resources to prevent domestic violence.

Additional events are planned for Domestic Violence Awareness Month. Students, faculty and staff are invited to participate in the Clothesline Project, a national effort to give survivors of domestic abuse an opportunity to speak out against domestic violence by decorating a T-shirt. T-shirts are free and can be decorated from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Wednesdays during campus Market Day. The shirts will be hung inside the Student Union throughout October.

If you have been involved in intimate-partner violence and would like to speak with an advocate, you can reach one 24/7 by calling 407-823-1200. For ongoing counseling and support, contact UCF’s Counseling and Psychological Services at 407-823-2811.

During October, UCF’s United Way Campaign raises funds for health and human service programs that provide critical care and assistance.

The 106 participants, all wearing red shirts, were part of a photo representing a giant drop of blood. Those who were in the photo were included on an electronic “honor wall,” and a copy of the picture was taken for the World Health Organization, which sponsors the annual World Blood Donor Day.

Also during the day, 38 people donated blood at either the main campus or the medical school campus at Lake Nona, and more than 50 visited the blood-typing tent.

This was the first major World Blood Donor Day in Central Florida, and the sponsoring Florida’s Blood Centers and Pint Club plan to make this an annual June 14 event, organizers said.

World Blood Donor Day is observed around globe to raise awareness of the need for blood donation and to thank all voluntary donors for their life-saving gift. Anyone may one day need blood for themselves or a loved one, but less than 40 percent of the U.S. population is eligible to donate and only about 5 percent of eligible donors give blood.

The UCF event committee included Tee Rogers, Marielis Martinez, Jennifer Carlson and Denise Lloyd.

“Drop” is the key word, as everyone who shows up will be asked to be in a photo after the group forms the shape of a giant drop of blood. A photo taken from above will be sent to the World Health Organization, which sponsors World Blood Donor Day.

Participants are asked to wear a red shirt to show their support. Registration in front of the UCF Arena will begin at 11 a.m. and the photo will be taken at 12:10 p.m. Free parking will be available in garages D and F.

Everyone who registers will be included on an electronic “honor wall,” will receive a participation certificate and link to the photo.

“Our local community is invited to join us, and we hope for an amazing turnout that will send a message of support for local heroes who donate blood as well as inspiring others to learn more about blood donation,” said Tee Rogers, a member of the team coordinating the event.

There also will be blood drives during the day at two different university locations: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Student Union, and noon to 6 p.m. at medical school’s campus at Lake Nona.

Afterwards there will be a Red Party at the Sanford Wine Company, 114 S. Palmetto Ave. The social gathering will be from 7 to 9 p.m.

Local partners supporting the day’s events are Florida’s Blood Centers, the Pint Club of Orlando, UCF College of Medicine, UCF Health Services, and BE Orlando.

World Blood Donor Day will be marked with events around the globe to raise awareness of the need for blood donation and to thank all voluntary donors for their life-saving gift of blood.

Anyone may one day need blood for themselves or a loved one, yet less than 40 percent of the U.S. population is eligible to donate and only about 5 percent of eligible donors give blood.

For details about the local events, contact Rogers at tee.rogers@ucf.edu or 407-823-3094, or click .