About 25 members of the Delta Tau Delta fraternity attended an appreciation party hosted by the American Red Cross Thursday night in the Effingham Room at the Martin Luther King Jr. University Union.

The Missouri/Illinois blood region of the Red Cross was honoring the fraternity for hosting a successful blood drive on Feb. 20 in which they met their goal of 150 donors.

Papa John’s provided pizzas for the party, and the Red Cross supplied a cake and a plaque.

Tracy Torbeck, territory manager for the Missouri/Illinois blood region, presented Delta Tau Delta with the plaque, which she described as “the prettiest one I have ever seen.”

The plaque, which thanks the fraternity on behalf of the American Red Cross, states, “your generous contribution of 150 pints has helped us meet the ever-present need for blood products.”

Bryan Jesse, junior hospitality management major and Delta Tau Delta president, said the drive was a great accomplishment for the fraternity.

“It takes our fraternity another step in the right direction, and I’m glad we received this honor while I was here,” Jesse said.

The former president of Delta Tau Delta, Brian Dombrowski, senior speech communication major, found the honor “outstanding.”

“The gentlemen who volunteered did phenomenal work, and Tracy (Torbeck) is a wonderful person to work with,” Dombrowski said.

Torbeck also announced Danny Battista, junior finance major and Delta Tau Delta member, will be the new EIU Blood Drive Committee president.

“It’s our second drive in two years, and both times we met our goals,” Battista said.

“Tracy likes us because of our hard work, and we make it fun, too.”

For next year, the fraternity plans to meet even larger goals with their blood drives.

Larry Ward, junior finance major and media spokesman for the EIU Blood Drive Committee, plans to distribute flyers to advertise the drives in the fall.

“Buddy the Blood Drop will also definitely be donning his costume,” Ward said.

The American Red Cross is sponsoring upcoming blood drives at the Newman Catholic Center on June 12 and at the Student Recreation Center on July 16.