Written By: John Rose

Nashville native Stephen Kinzer recently hit an extraordinary milestone with the American Red Cross: he has made 79 blood donations through the American Red Cross, totaling over nine gallons of life-saving blood.

In order to truly understand the impact of Stephen’s nine-gallon milestone, one must look at the staggering need for blood in the United States: Every two seconds, someone in the U.S. requires a blood or platelet transfusion, and approximately 29,000 units of red blood cells are needed across the country every single day. Because blood and platelets cannot be manufactured in a laboratory, patients rely entirely on the generosity of donors like Stephen. A single car accident victim needs as many as 100 units of blood, while patients with sickle cell disease—which affects roughly 90,000 to 100,000 Americans—could require regular blood transfusions throughout their entire lives.

Stephen’s first donation took place decades ago, when a blood drive was set up at Mt. Juliet High School. He’s been rolling up his sleeve ever since, driven by the knowledge that people from all walks of life could need blood at some point—and by his belief that helping them is a no-brainer.

“It can be anybody at any time,” said Stephen. “And the thought of helping them in their times of need just feels like the right thing to do. I always leave knowing I’ve done the right thing.”

Service to others has been an integral part of Stephen’s life even outside of his blood donations. He joined the Tennessee Air National Guard in his late twenties, spending an impressive 23 years and four months protecting our nation. Before retiring in 2022, he was a Logistics Readiness Officer—a role he jokes “wasn’t the action movie stuff” but nonetheless had him playing a crucial role in keeping operations running smoothly.

Today, Stephen continues serving his community through his support of the American Red Cross. Knowing that a single blood donation can help save more than one life, he also poses friendly challenges to his friends and family, inviting them to give more often than they otherwise might.

“I feel certain I’ve gotten people to donate,” said Stephen. “Made a little contest of it: Like, ‘I’m donating today, how about you?’”

For those who are considering donating blood but haven't yet taken the step, Stephen emphasizes how incredibly convenient the process has become. He encourages potential donors to take advantage of modern tools, like the Red Cross Blood Donor App, to easily search for a nearby blood drive and make an appointment.

“I can’t wait until I get to 100 donations, but even then I’m not going to stop.”

Whether you are a first-time donor or aiming for a multi-gallon milestone like Stephen, your generosity can be the difference between life and death for someone in need. Learn more about blood donation and sign up for an upcoming blood drive by visiting RedCrossBlood.org or by downloading the Red Cross Blood Donor app (available for Android and iOS devices).