Penn Staters are proud people. We don’t like to lose…at anything. You should have heard the uproar on a bus in Miami last year as the bus driver tried to tell a bus full of Nittany Lion fans that Florida State fans knew how to tailgate.
Considering this fact, it is difficult to believe that Penn State is currently behind Michigan State in this year’s Blood Donor Challenge. The last updated count was 1158-952, MSU. There are seven opportunities remaining in the next week to help tip the scales in Penn State’s favor. And, of course, just to do a good thing.
This year, however, Penn State and Michigan State have a bigger goal than beating each other. “Penn State and Michigan State both have a goal of collecting 2,000 units,” said Toni Lynn Gibson, president of the Penn State Red Cross Club. She explained that every year, the two schools raise far over 3,500 units together, and hope to push that to over 4,000 this year.
Though some folks wonder why they would donate blood when they’ll need as much of it pumping through their veins as possible to keep them warm for the last game of the season, Gibson explained that the challenge is done at this particular time “to boost up the blood inventories right before the holiday seasons, because other donors are less likely to donate during the holiday season.”
We offer lots of prizes (gift
certificates to downtown Penn State and Bellefonte businesses), t-shirts, free
pizza, and a good time –Toni Lynn Gibson, president
If you need more motivation to donate blood, there are plenty of great raffle prizes (including gift certificates to downtown Penn State and Bellefonte businesses), and all donors are entered into a drawing for a chance to win. “We offer lots of great prizes, t-shirts, free pizza, and a good time,” Gibson promises participants.
Also, Coach Paterno is the honorary chairperson for the Challenge, and donors will have the opportunity to send their get well wishes to him by signing cards at the canteen after their donation.
As I’m no longer a Penn State student, I was worried I would not be of any help in the challenge.
It turns out this is not the case at all, as community members are encouraged to join in the contest. You can sign up to donate on the PSU Red Cross Web site, and walk-in participants are also accepted.
The remaining blood drives for the challenge are:
- Fri., 11/10–12 p.m. to 6 p.m., Johnston Bravo Room, East Halls
- Sun., 11/12–12 p.m. to 5 p.m., Pollock Rec Room, Pollock Halls
- Mon., 11/13–10 a.m. to 4 p.m., IM Building, Gym 3
- Mon., 11/13–10 a.m. to 4 p.m., HUB, Alumni Hall
- Tues., 11/14–10 a.m. to 7 p.m., HUB Alumni Hall
- Wed., 11/15–10 a.m. to 8 p.m., HUB Alumni Hall
- Thurs., 11/16–9 a.m. to 8 p.m., HUB Alumni Hall
With all of these opportunities at different campus locations, available parking, and flexible hours throughout the week, the Red Cross Club is making it simple and accessible to participate.
Get involved, give blood, save lives, and help break our two-year losing streak to MSU! How can you go wrong?
The winner will be announced at the MSU-PSU game at Beaver Stadium on November 18.
For more information on the challenge or the host organization, visit www.psuredcross.org.
Have you given blood yet?
