Media contact: Keith Paul
Regional Communications Director
keith.paul@redcross.org | 702-400-7680
LAS VEGAS (Feb. 8, 2024) — A fortunate American Red Cross blood donor from Minnesota won a trip for two to Super Bowl LVIII in Las Vegas as the ultimate thank-you gift. The Red Cross and the National Football League (NFL) partnered to offer the prize, giving blood donors in January the chance to win the Super Bowl giveaway while making a lifesaving difference.
David Suggs, an electrician from Otsego, MN, donated blood at a drive hosted by Alleluia Lutheran Church in St. Michael, MN, on Jan. 15. His generous act automatically entered him into a drawing for the Super Bowl prize. When the Red Cross informed him that he won, his first thought was that it must be a joke.
“I thought they were joking, but they knew where I donated. I called 1-800-RED CROSS to verify, and it was true. When I told my wife, I kept laughing I couldn't believe it was happening,” Suggs said.
The once-in-a-lifetime experience
David and his wife, Christine, will enjoy Super Bowl LVIII in Las Vegas, access to day-of in-stadium pre-game activities, tickets to the official Super Bowl Experience, round-trip airfare to Las Vegas, three-night hotel accommodations, plus a $1,000 gift card for expenses. More details about the giveaway can be found at RedCrossBlood.org/SuperBowl.
For the past five years, the Red Cross and the NFL have teamed up in January to encourage blood donations, a month that often sees a dip in donors due to winter weather and seasonal illnesses. “Our partnership with the NFL not only offers a unique incentive for donors but also raises awareness about the urgent need for blood donations,” said Rachel Flanigan, Executive Director of the American Red Cross Southern Nevada Chapter.
A Commitment to helping others
David, a long-time donor who has given 44 units (5.5 gallons) of blood, doesn't have any personal ties to someone needing transfusions but takes pride in aiding those in need. “I'm not a firefighter or a first responder, but donating blood is something I can do to help others,” he said.
The Red Cross is currently grappling with a nationwide emergency blood shortage due to the lowest number of donors in the past two decades. Hospital demand for blood is outpacing the rate of donations. “We need more people like David who give regularly,” Flanigan urged. “Any of us could be in an accident or become ill some day and need a transfusion. Yet, in the U.S., where 62% of the population is eligible to give, only about 3% does.”
Maintaining a steady blood supply is vital for our nation's health. In January alone, severe winter weather led to the cancellation of 534 Red Cross blood drives, resulting in over 15,000 uncollected units of blood. To help replenish the blood supply, potential donors can schedule their donations through the Red Cross Blood Donor App, by visiting redcrossblood.org or by calling 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767).
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 follow us on social media.
