To encourage college students to donate blood, the American Red Cross is offering scholarships up to $2,500 for blood donated between Dec. 15 and Jan. 15.
“Winter is a difficult time to collect enough blood to meet patient needs with inclement weather and seasonal illnesses reducing the number of volunteer donors that come out and give,” Red Cross External Communications Manager Angie Bermundez said in a press release.
According to the Center for Disease Control’s website, there are more than 9.5 million blood donors nationwide, who give blood to around 5 million people who need it.
The Leaders Save Lives program will give the scholarships to students in colleges across the country who host a blood drive on their campus. The Red Cross will award up to six scholarships, at a total of $8,000, to students who get the most donations.
“Our Donor Recruitment representatives would discuss this with the student coordinator to ensure a successful blood drive,” Red Cross's Todd Kulman said in an emailed interview. "It's not always necessary to get all ‘blood types’ to show up. Blood donors of all types - especially AB, O-negative, A-negative and B-negative - are encouraged to give."
The actual collection of the blood will be done by Red Cross staff. Students would be in charge of working with the university and Red Cross to find a good location and a way to get students to donate. The drive can't be held while school is in session.
According to the Red Cross website, the amount of scholarship money awarded depends on the amount of useable blood you collect.
Students who collect 25 to 59 pints will receive $1,000. They expect to have four teams, nationwide, collect that amount.
The Red Cross expects one team to collect 60 to 99 pints for the $1,500 scholarship.
Students who collect 100 pints or more will be granted the $2,500 scholarship.
Students who collect 25 pints or more will receive a gift card.
Registration will start on Nov. 15. For more information, go to redcrossblood.org/leaderssavelives.
