{"id":134448,"date":"2026-08-14T01:48:00","date_gmt":"2026-08-14T06:48:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.unmc.edu\/newsroom\/?p=134448"},"modified":"2026-08-13T13:14:49","modified_gmt":"2026-08-13T18:14:49","slug":"campus-blood-drive-set-for-aug-27","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.unmc.edu\/newsroom\/2026\/08\/14\/campus-blood-drive-set-for-aug-27\/","title":{"rendered":"Blood drive set for Aug. 27 as Big Ten Challenge begins"},"content":{"rendered":"
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UNMC will hold a campus blood drive on Thursday, Aug. 27, from 9 a.m. to noon at the Hope Tower Circle, located near 40th<\/sup> Street and Dewey Avenue.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The drive will be the first on the Omaha campus since the official start of the 2026 nationwide \u201cWe Give Blood\u201d competition, sponsored by both Abbott, the global health care leader, and the Big Ten Conference.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Aug. 27 drive is operated by the Nebraska Community Blood Bank, the provider of blood for Nebraska Medicine.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Appointments are recommended. Donors can schedule an appointment for the drive online<\/a>. Enter sponsor code CHL or call 402-486-9414. Visit the Nebraska Community Blood Bank online<\/a> to learn more.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Abbott challenge, now in its third year, unites all 18 Big Ten universities to turn school pride into lifesaving action. Every two seconds<\/strong><\/a>, someone in the U.S. needs a blood transfusion \u2014 car accident victims, cancer patients, mothers with childbirth or pregnancy complications and more. Yet critical blood shortages continue, with the American Red Cross recently declaring a blood crisis<\/strong><\/a> as donations fell to a four-year summer low.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The competition officially kicks off Aug. 26, but to help address the current shortages, Abbott and the Big Ten are urging people to donate now. Any donations made between Aug. 12 and the official start will be honored as part of the competition. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Abbott awards $1 million to the school with the most donations to support student or community health. Nebraska won in 2024; Wisconsin won last year.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The “We Give Blood” winner will be announced at the 2026 Discover\u00ae<\/sup> Big Ten Football Championship Game on Dec. 5 in Indianapolis. A live leaderboard will track donations in real time at BigTen.Org\/Abbott<\/strong><\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Who can participate and how does my donation count?
<\/strong>Anyone in the U.S. over 18 who meets donor eligibility criteria. Donations from students, alumni and fans all count toward each school’s total. People can donate at any blood drive or blood center in the U.S. Participants can support a Big Ten school \u2014 and help address blood shortages \u2014 in three steps:<\/p>\n\n\n\n