Meet Memphian no. 286 (of 365), Jennifer Balink. Jennifer works with Lifeblood as the vice president of donor relations. Here, she answers my questions about returning to Memphis, where she would eat every day for a week and why everyone should take the time to give blood: Name: Jennifer Larkey Balink Occupation: VP, Donor Relations, Lifeblood (Mid-South Regional Blood Center) Hometown: Memphis Neighborhood: Central Gardens I moved back to Memphis because: My husband and I came to Memphis to make repairs to a rental house I owned.  Our plan was to fix the house and head back west within six months.  That was in May, 1999. I’m working on: putting customer service and independent decision-making on the front lines of a highly regulated, compliance-oriented environment. My favorite annual Memphis event is: It’s a tie between the Outdoors Inc. Annual Kayak and Canoe Race (even though it has been cancelled the last two years) and the Cooper-Young Festival. What I like about both is the same: they’re free public events that have a very local, grassroots, neighborhood feel even though they draw people from all across the community. People should give blood because: it literally gives another person life, whether it’s the 15 extra minutes to say goodbye to loved ones or the 50 extra years to see grandchildren grow up. I’m excited about: how many people – from every walk of life– have gotten active in education reform instead of sitting on the sidelines and watching.  It’s proof to me that our entire community can mobilize around an issue, even when there is disagreement. When I’m not working, I’m: either doing things with my family or playing tennis. If I could only eat at one Memphis restaurant for a week, it would be:  The Elegant Farmer My favorite place to be outside in Memphis is:  either at the sea lion amphitheatre at the Memphis Zoo or with my dogs in the off-leash area at Shelby Farms. I hope that: my children will grow up wanting to do good, that they will feel an inner calling to leave things better than they found them. I love Memphis because: of its small-town connectedness.