With 50 whole blood donations and counting, Robert Dresner (Missouri State, ’94) demonstrates how the values of Lambda Chi Alpha can inspire a lifetime of service.
For Brother Dresner, the decision to donate blood began with someone close to home. When his mother was battling cancer and needed blood transfusions, Dresner witnessed firsthand the importance of blood donations for patients and their families. Her experience inspired him to become a donor, beginning a journey that would eventually grow into one of his most meaningful personal commitments.
Today, Dresner has reached 50 blood donations through the American Red Cross, with no plans of slowing down. His journey, however, did not begin with a specific milestone in mind. Dresner initially donated whenever he found the opportunity, sometimes missing appointments or being turned away due to low iron levels.
That changed when he downloaded the American Red Cross Blood Donor App and discovered he had already donated approximately 25 times.
He challenged himself to reach 50 donations, then 75, and eventually 100. What began as an occasional act of generosity has become something Robert genuinely looks forward to.
Finding Purpose in Every Donation
As Dresner became more involved with the American Red Cross, he discovered that his donations could make a particularly meaningful difference for some of the youngest patients.
Through the Blood Donor App, Dresner learned that his blood was negative for cytomegalovirus (CMV), earning him the designation "Hero for Babies." This characteristic makes his blood valuable for certain vulnerable patients, including premature infants receiving care in neonatal intensive care units.
Learning that his donations could help babies in need gave Dresner an even greater sense of purpose. For him, knowing that his blood could help someone he might never meet is more than enough motivation to continue giving.
"There's something about giving that you can't get in any other way except for just giving," he explained. "It's a feeling that you're just like, yeah, man, I paid it forward today."
Brother Dresner doesn't seek recognition from the people who receive his donations. Instead, he finds fulfillment in knowing that he has made a positive difference in someone else's life.
"If I'm going to be here for a certain amount of time, I want to be able to help other people out."
A Lifetime of Living Lambda Chi Alpha's Values
Although his mother's cancer diagnosis inspired him to begin donating blood, Dresner’s understanding of service was shaped years earlier through his Lambda Chi Alpha experience Beta-Psi Zeta at Missouri State University.
Reflecting on the Fraternity's Seven Core Values, Brother Dresner identified integrity as particularly meaningful, while emphasizing that his entire undergraduate experience helped shape his outlook on life.
One memory from his time as an Undergraduate remains especially powerful.
During a Fraternity activity, Dresner and his Brothers delivered groceries to a family in need. Standing inside the family's home, Dresner felt compelled to explain why the Brothers had come and how they hoped to make a difference in their community.
Decades later, he became emotional recalling the impact of that experience.
"We may have not paid all their bills for the rest of their life, but for that one week, they had 8 bags of groceries that they could rely on, and they didn't have to worry."
That experience taught him as a young adult that service does not have to solve every problem to make a meaningful difference. Just as he and his brothers once provided groceries to a family they barely knew, he now gives blood to patients whose names he may never learn. Both acts reflect the belief that both Brotherhood and service should extend beyond oneself.
"I'm supposed to not live just for myself," Dresner reflected. "I'm now understanding that it's giving back as well."
Turning Brotherhood Into Action
Through Lambda Chi Alpha's partnership with the American Red Cross, Brothers have an opportunity to put the Fraternity's values into action by supporting patients and families in need.
Dresner believes that when someone can help another person, they have a responsibility to consider how they can use that opportunity.
His message to fellow Brothers is simple:
"You were given an opportunity to experience something. Take that and do something with it! Be a better person for yourself and make someone else a better person with what you've been given."
With 50 donations behind him and a goal of reaching 100, Robert Dresner continues to demonstrate how a personal commitment to service can grow into a lifelong mission.
His story serves as a reminder that living Lambda Chi Alpha's values doesn't end at graduation. It continues through the choices Brothers make and the ways they serve others throughout their lives.
Dresner’s challenge to fellow Brothers is one they can put into action today: If you're eligible, consider rolling up your sleeve and donating blood through the American Red Cross. Your next donation could make a meaningful difference for someone who needs it.
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