Donate blood with the American Red Cross and Penn State Athletics this autumn and you could score big as a “Bleed Blue Donor of the Game.”
Through Nov. 11, when members of Nittany Nation come in to donate blood at designated Bleed Blue blood drives, they are automatically entered in a drawing for a Donor of the Game package at one of four Penn State home games: Oct. 12 (Michigan), Nov. 2 (Illinois), Nov. 16 (Purdue) and Nov. 23 (Nebraska).
Included in each Donor of the Game package: Two tickets to the Penn State football game, two pregame hospitality passes, a reserved parking pass, a sideline visit during the game; participants must be age 18 or older, radio recognition during the pregame show portion of the statewide game broadcast and Beaver Stadium video board recognition. After the game, the Donor of the Game photo will be posted on redcrossblood.org/BleedBlue.
“Donate blood in August or early September and then again in early November and you’ll double your chances of winning a Donor of the Game package,” said John Hagins, CEO, American Red Cross, Greater Alleghenies Blood Services Region. “And by doing so you’ll also help people who’ve been injured, patients fighting cancer and many others who depend on blood transfusions.
“Every two seconds, someone in our country needs a blood transfusion,” he noted. “These needs continue day and night, every day of the year.”
Hagins noted that donors of all blood types are needed, although O negative, A negative and B negative blood types are currently in high demand.
Visit www.redcrossblood.org/bleedblue for additional information about the Penn State — Red Cross Bleed Blue promotion, including a list of Bleed Blue blood drives and winners of the 2013 Donor of the Game packages.
Blood can be safely donated every 56 days. Most healthy people age 17 and older, or 16 with parental consent, who weigh at least 110 pounds, are eligible to donate blood and platelets. Donors who are 18 and younger must also meet specific height and weight requirements.
Blood donation appointments are recommended where available. Call 1-800 RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767) or visit redcrossblood.org. The sponsor code for Penn State University Park Campus blood drives is PSU.
Those with specific eligibility questions should call the Red Cross Donor Client Support Center at 1-866-236-3276. Many donors are eligible to give blood every 56 days.
