World Blood Donor Day Starts Here: Theo’s Miracle, Katherine Lafourcade’s Mission

In this deeply moving episode of UrbanEbb, host Rico Figliolini sits down with Katherine Lafourcade, Executive Director of the French-American Chamber of Commerce Atlanta, to talk about life, leadership, and the power of giving back. Katherine shares her unexpected journey from Europe to Georgia, her role in connecting French businesses to Atlanta’s thriving innovation scene, and a powerful personal story of her son Theo's battle with leukemia that inspired her mission to promote blood donation.

With candor, insight, and heart, this conversation reminds us of the value of community—and how even a small act, like donating blood, can change lives.

Resources:
French-American Chamber of Commerce – Atlanta: https://www.facc-atlanta.com
Blood Drive Registration (June 14, 2025): https://www.facc-atlanta.com/events/u...
American Red Cross: https://www.redcrossblood.org

Takeaways:
Why the French-American Chamber of Commerce relocated to Curiosity Lab in Peachtree Corners
How Katherine transitioned from a global business background to nonprofit leadership
The life-threatening diagnosis that changed everything for her family
How her son Theo’s recovery from leukemia — and over 50 blood transfusions — inspired her to launch a community blood drive initiative
Why World Blood Donor Day (June 14, 2025) is a meaningful opportunity for new and returning donors
What it takes to host a Red Cross blood drive — and how you can help
-How giving blood could save up to three lives in under 15 minutes

Timestamp:
00:01:42 – Why the French-American Chamber relocated to Peachtree Corners
00:02:14 – Katherine’s transatlantic journey from England to France, Switzerland, and Georgia
00:06:02 – The chamber’s mission: helping French businesses land and grow in the U.S.
00:07:38 – Why French, British, and Irish nationals were banned from donating blood until 2023
00:10:01 – Katherine shares her son Theo’s leukemia diagnosis and critical care experience
00:13:03 – The severity of Theo’s condition and the ECMO machine that saved his life
00:16:00 – The frustration of being unable to donate blood as a parent
00:20:19 – The family’s move to the U.S. and continued treatment during COVID
00:21:44 – Theo’s dream of becoming a pediatric oncologist
00:22:21 – Launching local blood drives and how to get involved
00:24:09 – What it’s really like to donate blood: time, process, and tracking where it goes
00:28:05 – Tracking donations via the Red Cross app and building a culture of giving
00:29:19 – Where to sign up and what to expect on June 14, 2025