Around Town - April 9, 2014

GIVING

H.B. man still giving his all

Huntington Beach resident Patrick Earley recently completed his 800th platelet donation through the Red Cross. Earley, 88, has been a dedicated donor of lifesaving platelets since the early 1990s, according to a news release.

Earley was honored with a surprise celebration following his 800th donation on March 28 at the American Red Cross Blood Services Fountain Valley Donor Center.

He first became a blood donor during WWII when he served as an allied forces paratrooper, according to the release. In 1992, Earley switched to donating platelets — the clotting component of blood. Cancer survivors, surgical candidates and transplant patients are among those often treated with platelet transfusions.

The platelet donation is a 90-minute process in which the donor’s blood is drawn and processed in a cell separator. The cell separator extracts platelets and returns the remainder of the blood components to the donor.

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Elks give to youth shelter

The Huntington Beach Elks Lodge 1959 recently presented a Gratitude Grant of $1,000 to the Huntington Beach Youth Shelter.

The shelter, a Huntington Beach nonprofit run by the Community Service Programs, operates entirely on donations. The shelter serves at-risk children ages 11 to 17 for a period of up to one month with the goal of family reunification.

The shelter uses counseling and other activities to achieve a 90% success rate for family reunification, according to a news release.

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Notables

Outstanding performance

Navy Seaman Apprentice Eric Z. Amos was recently promoted to his current rank upon graduation from U.S. Navy basic training at Recruit Training Command, Great Lakes, Ill.

Amos received the early promotion for outstanding performance during all phases of training, which included first aid, firefighting, water safety and survival, and shipboard and aircraft safety.

Amos is the son Lorine M. Amos of Huntington Beach and Robert V. Amos of Long Beach. He is a 2012 graduate of Marina High School.

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Out of boot camp

Navy Seaman Lucas R. Crawford and Navy Seaman Recruit Cody W. Martin recently completed U.S. Navy basic training at Recruit Training Command, Great Lakes, Ill.

During the eight-week program, the men completed classroom study and practical instruction, including first aid, firefighting, water safety and survival, and shipboard and aircraft safety.

The capstone event of boot camp is Battle Stations, which is designed to galvanize the basic warrior attributes of sacrifice, dedication, teamwork and endurance.

Crawford, the son of Robert A. Crawford of Huntington Beach, is a 2011 graduate of Lyons Senior High School in Colorado. Martin is the son of Michael D. and Pamela G. Martin of Westminster. He is a 2013 graduate of Huntington Beach High School.

AROUND TOWN is a column about people and events in Huntington Beach, Fountain Valley and Seal Beach compiled by city editor Alicia Lopez. Please submit information about your fundraiser, charity event or a person deserving attention to hbindependent@latimes.com or alicia.lopez@latimes.com.