Find a Blood Drive
Find a Blood Drive
Nearly 4,800 people participate; Portland resident wins tickets to big game
CORVALLIS, Ore. (Nov. 25, 2016) — Oregon State University is the winner for the 2016 Civil War Blood Drive collecting 2,629 votes. OSU now takes the lead 8-7 in the friendly battle between the Beavers and the University of Oregon Ducks who collected 2,153 votes during this year’s blood drive battle.
The 15th annual Civil War Blood Drive welcomed 4,782 fans, students, faculty and community members during the three-week campaign that ran Nov. 1-20.
“Rivalries bring out the best in everyone,” said Kathy Bickel, Vice President of Alumni Relations and Executive Director for the OSU Alumni Association. “This is a perfect example of what healthy competition can do for the greater good. We are proud to be the winners, but even prouder that so many Beavers and Ducks donated blood to meet a crucial need.”
Portland resident, Mike Marsh, who donated blood at the Portland Donation Center, was the winner of two tickets to this year’s Civil War game taking place tomorrow, Saturday, Nov. 26, at Reser Stadium in Corvallis.
“I followed my dad’s example and have given blood actively since I was in the marines,” said Marsh. “My daughter continues the tradition. I appreciate the services provided by the Red Cross. They make a difference.”
The Civil War Blood Drive is an annual event held during the first three weeks of November. It is designed to unite students, faculty, alumni and fans with a shared goal to help save lives by giving blood. This year’s campaign was comprised of hundreds of blood drives throughout Oregon – including special weeklong blood drives held on each university’s campus.
During its history, the Civil War Blood Drive has brought in more than 102,000 blood and platelet donors. The drive helps support the community blood supply at a time when donations tend to decline. The holidays can be a challenging time of year to collect blood, as holiday travel and celebrations can cause some donors to delay giving. The Civil War Blood Drive helps to ensure blood products are available for patients in need during this time period. No matter what team donors supported, they helped spread hope this holiday season by giving the perfect gift – the gift of life.
Donors of all blood types, particularly O, A negative and B negative, and platelet donors are urged to schedule an appointment to give blood or platelets this winter.
How to donate blood
Simply download the American Red Cross Blood Donor App, visit redcrossblood.org or call 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767) to make an appointment or for more information. All blood types are needed to ensure a reliable supply for patients. A blood donor card or driver’s license or two other forms of identification are required at check-in. Individuals who are 17 years of age in most states (16 with parental consent where allowed by state law), weigh at least 110 pounds and are in generally good health may be eligible to donate blood. High school students and other donors 18 years of age and younger also have to meet certain height and weight requirements.
Blood donors can now save time at their next donation by using RapidPass to complete their pre-donation reading and health history questionnaire online, on the day of their donation, prior to arriving at the blood drive. To get started and learn more, visit redcrossblood.org/RapidPass and follow the instructions on the site.
About the American Red Cross
The American Red Cross shelters, feeds and provides emotional support to victims of disasters; supplies about 40 percent of the nation's blood; teaches skills that save lives; provides international humanitarian aid; and supports military members and their families. The Red Cross is a not-for-profit organization that depends on volunteers and the generosity of the American public to perform its mission. For more information, please visit redcross.org or cruzrojaamericana.org, or visit us on Twitter at @RedCross.
About UO Alumni Association
The mission of the University of Oregon Alumni Association is to foster lifelong connections with alumni and friends of the University of Oregon. The UOAA was founded in 1879 and originally served five alumni. Today, the Association serves more than 226,000 alumni, including more than 21,000 members, creating opportunities to participate in the life and vitality of the UO community.
The Association also funds scholarships for incoming students and sponsors one of the largest endowed Presidential Scholarships on campus. The UOAA assists the university's legislative advocacy efforts through the Alumni Advocates, a group of alumni and friends committed to lobbying state legislators on behalf of the higher education and the University of Oregon. Visit the UOAA at the Ford Alumni Center, next to the Matthew Knight Arena. To find out more about how you can get involved, go to uoalumni.com.
About OSU Alumni Association
The Oregon State University Alumni Association is a member-based, nonprofit organization that promotes OSU and engages alumni. Its programs include the Oregon Stater magazine, scholarships, regional activities, faculty lecture series, travel opportunities, tailgate parties and more. It is located in the CH2M HILL Alumni Center, which also serves as a conference center. To learn more, please visit OSUAA at osualum.com.