Schools

Video: Principal Practices What He Preaches

Riverview High School Principal Robert "Bob" Heilmann talks about the "culture of giving" as he celebrates with students and staff their national School Blood Drive Award.

 

Recognized for being an 8-gallon blood donor, Riverview High School principal Robert Heilmann received high praise from Mike Pratt of OneBlood Inc., who on April 4 heralded the school's 2013 receipt of the national School Blood Drive Award.

"He just exudes leadership," Pratt said. "He's instilling a sense of community responsibility in these young people."

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At the April 4 celebration in the Riverview High School cafeteria, packed with students, teachers and staff, Heilmann offered a glimpse into the very real relationship he has with his community driven school community, including alumni and parents, which "over the past five years have generously given a total of 7,011 blood donations during the 25 blood drives held on campus," according to a report from Florida Blood Services, a division of OneBlood Inc.

"It's a celebration of life and I want you to remember that," Heilman told the teachers and students in attendance. "It's a culture of giving that I want you to take with you."

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Heliman made his remarks after the audience viewed a video that showed the Riverview spirit in action.

He first gave blood in 1970 or 1971, Heilmann said, "I just know it was after Woodstock, that I know."

The worst part, he added, is the prick in the finger. "Once you get past the little finger, it's okay."

For those who know Heilmann, his ease with students is well-known, his concern for their lives and their futures readily apparent, as it has been for the many years he has worked with the Hillsborough County School District.

The "culture of giving" blood started for Heilmann in Hillsborough when he was at East Bay High School, after a shooting claimed the lives of two police officers, he said.

"I want to say it was the late 80’s or early 90's and East Bay was the Podunk school down on Big Bend Road, where nobody walked to school, where everybody took the bus or had a big truck," he said. "And East Bay High School donated more blood than any other institution in Hillsborough County for two Tampa policemen."

The tradition continued at Riverview.

"When we opened up Riverview in '98 we brought that culture with us, those of that were from East Bay High School," Heilmann said. "We hooked up with a great blood center and they made giving fun."

Heilmann urged his students to keep themselves in a "positive physical mode" so that they could always give blood.

"You never know when someone's going to need a pint of blood," he said. "The scary thing about it, it could be mine. It could be mine. The poor person that  gets my blood will have to become a principal. What else could they do?"

Heilmann praised both current and past student-government association members, "for cooking and cleaning and making [the annual blood drives] a celebration of life."

He said he wished he could give his students more — a gift card, perhaps — "but I think the majority of you don't need anything," he added, other than the joy of giving.

But, he added good-naturedly, "if you ever get in grouble with me, remind me how many times you’ve given blood, I can use that in my owe-you-one thing [column]. Maybe. Maybe. Or, if you're not so good, I'll make you give another pint."

The blood drives are sponsored and promoted by members of the Student Government Association, under the leadership of Laura Hike, their faculty advisor. The blood drive committee recruits students to give blood, coordinates the flow of donors during the drives, and sponsors a cookout to feed all who donate.

"I'm so proud of them," Hike said about the Riverview High students, both blood drive organizers and donors. "They work hard for everything, and not just the blood drives."

Indeed, the Riverview Relay For Life this year alone has raised more than $100,000 in the fight against cancer. The overnight fundraiser for the American Cancer Society was held March 23-24.

  • See On View at the 2013 Riverview Relay For Life
  • See 'Team Heather' Stays Strong at Riverview Relay For Life
  • See Cancer Fighters Ready for Bloomingdale Relay For Life, which includes team, participant and donation totals for the six Eastern Hillsborough County Relay events, including the one held at Riverview High.

The School Blood Drive Award is a competition run by America's Blood Centers, North America’s largest network of comm unity-based, independent blood programs.The federation operates more than 600 blood donor centers providing half of the U.S., and a quarter of the Canadian blood supply.


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