The Battle of the Badges Blood Drive Program, for which Mahogany Thomas serves as Blood Drive Coordinator, began in 2007 as an opportunity for Southern California’s badge carrying personnel to positively impact their community by competing in a friendly blood drive competition. In six short years, the program has grown into what has become the nation’s largest and most successful law-enforcement blood drive effort. This year, more than 200 local, state, county and federal badge-carrying agencies went head-to-head to see which agency could donate the most blood through the American Red Cross. And while this initiative is themed and geared specifically toward the law enforcement community, the general public is strongly encouraged to participate. Mahogany says it’s interesting to see “big, tough guys” who put their lives on the line everyday “be afraid of a little needle. But they still show up every year knowing that 1 donation can save 3 lives and that’s what makes it so rewarding.”