Media contact: Keith Paul
Regional Communications Director
keith.paul@redcross.org | 702-400-7680
SALT LAKE CITY (March 27, 2025) — Give a pint, get tickets for game night. The Utah Jazz and Delta Air Lines, a longtime American Red Cross supporter, are teaming up to host a Red Cross of Utah blood drive at Delta Center on Monday, March 31, from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. A limited number of attendees who present at the blood drive will receive two tickets to watch the Jazz take on the Oklahoma City Thunder.
“Donating blood is a simple yet powerful way to help save lives, and we’re pleased to open up Delta Center for this important occasion,” said Chris Barney, president of revenue and commercial strategy for Smith Entertainment Group. “We encourage Utahns who are able to make a contribution to join us for this event, so it makes as big of an impact as possible. We are grateful to Delta and the American Red Cross for the opportunity to collaborate on this effort.”
One hundred donors who present at this event will receive two tickets each to the Jazz game against Oklahoma City Thunder that is scheduled to take place on April 11 at Delta Center. The tickets offered to donors are provided by Delta Air Lines and the Utah Jazz and are available on a first-come, first-served basis, while supplies last.
The Red Cross of Utah encourages donors to schedule an appointment for the March 31 Utah Jazz-Delta blood drive. Appointments can be made using the Red Cross Blood Donor App, visiting redcrossblood.org or calling 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767) and using sponsor code, DeltaJazz.
Why Donate? The Need is Critical
Severe winter storms across the country this year have forced the cancellation of more than 1,000 blood drives, resulting in over 30,000 uncollected blood donations. With the nation’s blood supply under strain, the Red Cross of Utah, Delta Air Lines and the Utah Jazz are urging the community to donate blood now to ensure a stable supply of lifesaving blood for patients in need.
The American Red Cross plays a vital role in the nation’s healthcare system by supplying 40% of the country’s blood, supporting over 2,500 hospitals and transfusion centers. Locally, nearly 45 hospitals in Utah count on Red Cross donations to meet the needs of their patients. To keep up with demand, the Red Cross must collect about 12,500 blood donations and 3,000 platelet donations every day.
Addressing Diabetes with A1C Screenings
The blood drive marks the final day for donors to take advantage of the Red Cross of Utah’s free A1C testing, a valuable health screening that can help detect diabetes or prediabetes early. Additionally, those who come to donates blood in March will receive a $10 Amazon.com Gift Card via email. Visit RedCrossBlood.org/March for more information.
“We are proud to offer free A1C testing to all blood donors this month as part of our commitment to health and community well-being,” said Jeremiah Lafranca, Executive Director of the American Red Cross of Utah Greater Salt Lake Chapter. “Ensuring access to essential health screenings like A1C testing empowers people to better manage their health and also addresses critical gaps in health care access. We’re honored to support our donors and communities in taking proactive steps toward healthier lives.”
Delta’s Longstanding Commitment
The American Red Cross is Delta’s longest standing nonprofit partner dating back to 1941 when Delta employees donated blood during WWII. Today, it remains the largest corporate blood drive sponsor in the U.S., holding this role for seven years in a row. Delta also contributes $1 million annually to the Red Cross’s Annual Disaster Giving Program, bolstering strategic disaster response efforts.
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.
About the Utah Jazz
Founded as the 18th member of the National Basketball Association (NBA) in 1974, and located in Salt Lake City since 1979, the Utah Jazz are committed to excellence as a team and in the community. On the court, the Jazz are the second-winningest team in the NBA over the last 30 years, having won nine division titles and two Western Conference championships along with 17 seasons of 50-plus wins, and are supported by one of the most passionate fan bases in all of sports. The Utah Jazz also operate the Junior Jazz program, the largest and longest-running youth basketball league in the NBA, featuring more than 70,000 players and an additional 13,000 volunteers who take part annually across six states. For more information on the Utah Jazz, an entity of Smith Entertainment Group, visit www.utahjazz.com.
