Campus Life

Penn State and Michigan State compete in 25th annual Blood Donor Challenge

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UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — From Nov. 4 through Nov. 22, Penn State will square off against Michigan State in the 25th annual Penn State vs. Michigan State Blood Donor Challenge, a pint-for-pint competition to see which university can collect the most blood.

All Penn State students, faculty, staff, alumni and fans are encouraged to participate in this friendly, but important, competition. The challenge also is crucial to the region’s blood supply heading into the holiday season when blood donations tend to decline.

Blood can be donated at the following locations at University Park during the month of November:

  • Nov. 5: HUB Alumni Hall, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
  • Nov. 6: HUB Alumni Hall, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
  • Nov. 7: HUB Heritage Hall, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
  • Nov. 8: Hammond Building—Kunkle Lounge, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
  • Nov. 11: West Halls, Waring Commons Study Lounges, noon to 6 p.m.
  • Nov. 12: Hintz Family Alumni Center, Robb Hall, 10:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.
  • Nov. 13: Pasquerilla Spiritual Center, Memorial Lounge, 9 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.
  • Nov. 14: Millennium Science Complex (MRI side), 9 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.
  • Nov. 18-21: HUB Alumni Hall, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.

To schedule an appointment to donate, visit RedCrossBlood.org and enter sponsor code "PSU" under "Find a Blood Drive," download the Blood Donor app on your mobile device, or call 1-800-733-2767. Appointments are highly recommended, but walk-in donations are welcome.

Each university set a goal to collect 1,000 units of blood this year, for a combined total of 2,000 units — blood that will go on to save up to 6,000 patients’ lives. One unit of whole blood can save up to three lives.

Every two to three seconds, someone in the U.S. needs blood. The American Red Cross urges donors of all types to give blood, but type O blood donors are urgently needed right now. The Red Cross must collect approximately 13,000 blood donations every day for patients at about 2,500 hospitals nationwide. Blood that is donated through the American Red Cross helps to support cancer patients, organ transplants, trauma victims and more.

All presenting donors will receive the official 2019 Penn State vs. Michigan State Blood Donor Challenge T-shirt and refreshments donated by sponsors and area restaurants.

For more information, contact Melissa Wolf at Melissa.Wolf@redcross.org or 814-659-5139.

Last Updated November 20, 2019