Now’s your chance to join the competition in the Big Ten Conference and Abbott’s “We Give Blood” challenge.
Today (Oct. 20), the UNMC College of Pharmacy is holding a blood drive that qualifies for the University of Nebraska’s entry in the challenge. Additional blood drives are scheduled on the UNMC Omaha campus on Oct. 30 and Nov. 25.
UNMC’s participation boosts NU’s team toward the $1 million “We Give Blood” prize. And med center donors have a new chance to win a prize from Big Grove Brewery.
UNMC’s new neighbor in the EDGE District and a partner in the promotion, Big Grove is offering six $25 gift cards and a grand prize $150 gift card to the restaurant and brewery, along with Omaha-branded Big Grove merchandise, for a drawing held by UNMC Strategic Communications.
With Nebraska continuing to trail Wisconsin on the leaderboard, UNMC faculty, students and staff and Nebraska Medicine colleagues who donate blood in support of NU’s team can enter the drawing. Supporters who donate blood, log it toward NU’s “We Give Blood” effort and promote their donation to UNMC social media will have a chance to win.
Here’s how to participate:
- Register to donate blood at an upcoming campus events today, Oct. 30 and Nov. 25. See details on the blood drives below.
- Donate on the day of the event and log your donation (with your name, photo or confirmation email) at this We Give Blood challenge link. You also can text DONATE to 222688 (ABBOTT).
- To enter the UNMC drawing, post a photo or video to social media of you after donating on campus, tagged to UNMC on Instagram, Facebook, X, BlueSky or LinkedIn. Private accounts can send a direct message to UNMC accounts with your post.
Individual winners among the UNMC Community will be drawn at random and notified by UNMC Strategic Communications.
The “We Give Blood” campaign is promoting the life-saving gift of blood donation – helping patients in critical need, addressing the urgent national blood shortage and building the bench of donors for the future.
NU took home the prize in the inaugural drive last year, winning $1 million to support student and community health initiatives. This year, Nebraska’s team has expanded to all NU campuses, including UNMC, with another $1 million prize on the line.
The competition runs through Dec. 5, and all 18 Big Ten universities are in the game.
Donations also can be logged from previous campus events dating to Aug. 27. In fact, donations at any blood center or mobile drive in the U.S. between Aug. 27 to Dec. 5 are eligible for the “We Give Blood” challenge and NU’s totals, with proof of donation and selection of Nebraska’s affiliation.
As of this week, NU trailed Wisconsin by some 700-plus donors. But in all, the “We Give Blood” challenge had garnered enough donations to save an estimated 114,510 lives.
Details of the UNMC events are:
- Today: UNMC College of Pharmacy Blood Drive | 40th Street and Dewey Avenue, located at the loop by Hope Tower | noon-3 p.m. | Code PHARM
- Thursday, Oct. 30: Center for Healthy Living, 3908 Jones St. | 9 a.m.-noon | Code CHL
- Tuesday, Nov. 25: Lied Transplant Center, 4350 Emile St. | 9 a.m.-1 p.m. | Code NMRT
UNMC drives are operated by the Nebraska Community Blood Bank – the provider of blood for Nebraska Medicine. Appointments are recommended. Donors can schedule an appointment for the drive online using the codes above or call 402-486-9414.