Video: New faces help blood center save lives

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SEATTLE - Those who donate blood will likely never know the face of the person who receives it.

Now the Puget Sound Blood Center is raising money by auctioning off face masks.

There are more than 100 masks, ranging from silly to sublime, and they're currently on display at the Bellevue Square mall. Many are available through an online auction.

The rest will be auctioned off at the Faces for Life gala and auction, March 15 at the Grand Hyatt Seattle.

Local artists used materials ranging from beads to melted candle wax, and the result is a display as diverse as the lives that have been saved thanks to blood and bone marrow donations.

One of those donors is Seattle police sergeant Randy Yamanaka.

Yamanaka painted several masks - one with his daughter and another with the police chief.

Faces for Life

Seattle Police Chief Gil Kerlikowske crafted this mask for the benefit.

While he's pleased his artistic ability is helping raise money for research and a new thrombosis center, he feels his best work was five years ago, when some of his bone marrow saved the life of a young leukemia patient he's now met several times.

"I've seen Luke playing out in the California sunshine and it's just a joyous feeling," he said.

Tickets to Saturday's gala are $300. All proceeds will benefit work at the Puget Sound Blood Center.

The organization serves more than 70 hospitals and clinics in Western Washington.