Omega Psi Phi Fraternity hosted a blood drive Monday through American Red Cross to support former fraternity member Charles R. Drew, who passed away in 1950.

Drew was a physician and medical researcher who developed improved techniques for the storage and preservation of blood that helped save numerous lives during World War II, according to the Charles R. Drew University of Medicine and Science website.

Omega Psi Phi president, junior Byron Bailey, said his organization hoped to keep its late fraternity brother’s legacy alive through the blood drive on the university’s campus.

“He saved millions of lives during World War II by systematically putting in place an effective way for people to come and revive by doing blood drives,” he said.

Bailey said that the blood drive was first and foremost a memorial to Drew, and secondly, a way to give back to those in need.

“I feel like everyone gives back in their own different ways whether you do a community service project as picking up trash or donating money,” Bailey said. “But what better way to give back than to give back the most essential part of life?”

This was the first time the TCU chapter held a blood drive on campus, though many other chapters nationally have held them before, Bailey said. Omega Psi Phi is a National Pan-Hellenic Council organization. The fraternity’s chapter on TCU’s campus was founded in 1982.

Bailey said he was expecting around 30 students to donate blood. He said even with only 30 blood donors, they will still have contributed to saving almost 100 lives. The incentive and appeal of the blood drive was its potential to save another life.

“Just to be able to know that I helped someone else, and that someone else is probably helping me as well, it’s very beneficial to all parties involved,” he said.