Washington – September 08, 2026 -- The American Red Cross and the NAACP will premiere "Iconic Excellence: The Legacy of Dr. Charles R. Drew" on Sept. 18 on the American Red Cross YouTube channel, marking the 85th anniversary of Drew's appointment as the first medical director of the Red Cross Blood Program.
The short documentary traces Drew's breakthroughs in blood plasma preservation, work credited with saving hundreds of thousands of lives during World War II and shaping modern blood collection and distribution methods.
Drew's family speaks on camera together for the first time
Produced with Drew's family, the NAACP and Omega Psi Phi Fraternity Inc., the film follows his path from a childhood in Washington, D.C. to global recognition as a Black surgeon and educator. His daughters and grandchildren address long-standing questions, including whether he received blood products after the 1950 car accident that killed him at age 45, and why he left the Red Cross amid the military's blood segregation policy.
"My father's work in training other Black surgeons was uppermost in his mind at the time of his death," said Dr. Charlene Drew Jarvis, his middle daughter, describing generations of surgeons he trained who then trained others.
The NAACP awarded Drew its highest honor in 1944
The NAACP gave Drew the Spingarn Medal in 1944 for his blood plasma research, while segregation policy was still official practice. NAACP President and CEO Derrick Johnson called Drew "an unsung hero of World War II" whose innovation helped soldiers return home to their families.
Blood donations from Black donors have nearly doubled since 2021
The Red Cross Sickle Cell Initiative, launched in 2021, has driven an 89% increase in annual blood donors who are Black or African American. More than 445,770 Black or African American donors have given blood to support sickle cell patients to date, including over 188,000 first-time donors.
Chris Hrouda, president of American Red Cross Biomedical Services, said Drew's approach of inviting people into the mission remains central to how donations are secured today.
The film premieres during Sickle Cell Awareness Month. Organizations can register to host screenings or blood drives at RedCrossBlood.org/IconicExcellence, and individuals can schedule donations at RedCrossBlood.org/OurBlood or by calling 1-800-733-2767.