Media contact: Keith Paul
Regional Communications Director
keith.paul@redcross.org | 702-400-7680
LAS VEGAS (Aug. 17, 2022) — The American Red Cross of Southern Nevada and the Las Vegas Ballpark® are teaming up for “Red Cross Awareness Night” on Tuesday, Aug. 23, at the Las Vegas Aviators® game. Red Cross staff and volunteers will be at the game providing information on preparedness and encouraging local baseball fans to “step up to the plate” and donate blood on Aug. 30 at the Las Vegas Ballpark® and be rewarded with a ticket to a future game.*
“We support the American Red Cross in their efforts to ensure the community is prepared for emergencies and to donate blood,” said Chuck Johnson, General Manager and Vice President of Sponsorships and Marketing for the Las Vegas Aviators and Las Vegas Ballpark. “I encourage fans who are healthy and able to donate, to please give blood.”
The Las Vegas Ballpark will be hosting a blood drive on Tuesday, Aug. 30, from 8:30 a.m. until 5:30 p.m. in the Playstudios Club Level at Las Vegas Ballpark. Donors are asked to schedule an appointment prior to arriving at the drive by downloading the free Red Cross Blood Donor App, visiting RedCrossBlood.org, calling 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767) or enabling the Blood Donor Skill on any Alexa Echo device and using sponsor code Aviators.
The Las Vegas Ballpark Blood Drive comes at an important time, as the American Red Cross has faced a concerning drop in blood donations this summer. The decline in donations has caused the Red Cross blood supply to shrink nearly 20% in recent weeks. The availability of blood products will continue to decline if donations do not increase.
“Fans are invited to ‘roll up a sleeve’ and become part of a lifesaving team that helps ensure cancer patients, trauma victims, and others have blood products available for emergency and everyday medical care,” said Rachel Flanigan, Executive Director of the American Red Cross Southern Nevada Chapter.
Fuel up on us
As blood donations drop, gas prices have reached all-time highs in the U.S. As a thank-you, all who come to give Aug. 1-31 will be automatically entered for a chance to win gas for a year, a $6,000 value. There will be three lucky winners. Everyone who comes to give blood or platelets in August will also receive a $10 e-gift card to a merchant of choice. (Terms apply. Visit rcblood.org/fuel for details.)
Fans are also encouraged to stop by the Red Cross table at the game on Aug. 23 to talk with Red Cross volunteers and staff about how to create an emergency kit, develop a family plan in case of an emergency.
“Everyone should know that you improve your chances staying safe when you have an emergency kit and everyone in your family knows where to go and what to do during a disaster,” Flanigan said.
The Red Cross encourages community members to follow these three simple steps:
1) Get a kit. 2) Make a plan. 3) Be Informed. To learn more: redcross.org/prepare.
Helping people during disasters is at the heart of the Red Cross mission, and the organization also offers individual and family preparedness training. “Disasters can happen anywhere, anytime,” Flanigan said. “We urge people to prepare now and be ready if an emergency occurs in their home or community.”
About the American Red Cross
The American Red Cross shelters, feeds, and provides comfort to victims of disasters; supplies about 40% of the nation's blood; teaches skills that save lives; distributes international humanitarian aid; and supports veterans, military members, and their families. The Red Cross is a nonprofit organization that depends on volunteers and the generosity of the American public to deliver its mission. For more information, please visit redcross.org or CruzRojaAmericana.org, or visit us on Twitter at @RedCross
About Las Vegas Aviators®
The Las Vegas Aviators® have the proud distinction of being the longest enduring franchise in the history of professional sports in the state of Nevada. The 2022 campaign marked the 40th calendar season in the Silver State as a proud member of Triple-A professional baseball of the Pacific Coast League and the second season in Las Vegas Ballpark (8,196). The Aviators led all minor league baseball in 2019 attendance with a total of 650,934 for an average of 9,299. Las Vegas recorded 47 sellouts and 23 crowds of 10,000+. In 2021, Las Vegas led Triple-A West in home attendance with a total of 428,369 for an average of 6,590. The Aviators were the recipient of the 2021 Baseball America Triple-A Freitas Award, given to the organization of the year at each level of the Minor Leagues. The Stars (1983-2000)/51s (2001-18)/Aviators (2019 - present) have reached the 300,000 mark in “home” attendance in all 39 seasons (36 seasons at Cashman Field, 1983-2018; Las Vegas Ballpark, 2019, 2021-2022). The Aviators are in their third season as the Triple-A affiliate of the Oakland Athletics and the franchise won the PCL championship in 1986 and 1988.
About Las Vegas Ballpark®
Las Vegas Ballpark®, located on eight acres in Downtown Summerlin® just south of City National Arena, practice facility for the Vegas Golden Knights, is the home of the Las Vegas Aviators®, the city's professional Triple-A baseball team of the Pacific Coast League (PCL) and affiliate of the Oakland Athletics. The team is wholly owned by The Howard Hughes Corporation®, developer of the award-winning master-planned community of Summerlin® and developer of Las Vegas Ballpark. With a wide range of seating options including 22 suites, club seats, berm seating, party zones and decks, picnic tables, kids' zone, bars and a pool beyond the outfield wall, Las Vegas Ballpark boasts a capacity of 10,000. Designed to host a variety of events in addition to baseball, the site is landscaped to complement the surrounding master planned community. The site is easily accessed from all regions of the valley via the 215 Beltway. For more on Las Vegas Ballpark, visit www.thelvballpark.com.
* Terms and Restrictions Apply. All Presenting donors receive one (1) voucher redeemable at the Main Box Office at the Las Vegas Ballpark for one (1) ticket to a future 2022 Aviators game. No exchanges, no cash value.
