Vans Warped Tour promotion helps the American Red Cross connect with youth
In the Indiana-Ohio Region, 565 blood drives a year are held at high schools and colleges, representing approximately 31,000 units of blood in our community alone. When school is out, donating blood often takes a back seat to other summer activities. And when the majority of these donors aren’t donating over the summer, it creates a unique challenge for the Red Cross during these months.
To encourage these blood donors to continue to give during the summer months, the Red Cross is offering special VIP passes to The Vans Warped Tour, the longest running alternative music festival of its type in North America.
All who come to donate blood at participating American Red Cross / Vans Warped Tour blood drives this summer will receive a free VIP pass to The Vans Warped Tour at Verizon Wireless Center in Noblesville, Indiana. When used with a purchased ticket, the VIP pass allows special access to meet and greet with select bands.
In addition, those who come to donate will also have a chance to win an exclusive Vans Warped Tour Experience which includes two concert tickets and meet-n-greets with select bands for them and a friend. The Vans Warped Tour Experience allows special access to areas not open to the general public. Twenty donors will win from May 2 to June 24 in this region-wide drawing for the July 7 concert at Verizon Wireless Music Center in Noblesville.
“Up to 20 percent of blood donations through the Red Cross come from high school and college blood drives,” said Sharyn Whitman, CEO for the Indiana-Ohio Blood Services Region of the American Red Cross. “But we tend to lose that lifesaving connection during the summer when school is not in session. Since 2006, this program has reached thousands of music lovers across the U.S. We’re hoping eligible individuals will continue this tradition and help ensure a stable blood supply this summer.”
Come to donate at the following blood drives and be entered into a region-wide drawing to win free gas for a year ($3000 gift card).
Upcoming Music Saves Lives Blood Drives:
- Wednesday, June 15, from 2 p.m. until 6 p.m. at the YMCA, located at 1201 Cumberland Crossing Dr. in Valparaiso. To schedule your appointment, please enter donor code “vwtin” at redcrossblood.org.
- Friday, June 24, from 11:30 a.m. until 4:30 p.m. at the YMCA of Portage, located at 3100 Willowcreek Rd. in Portage. To schedule your appointment, please enter donor code “vwtin” at redcrossblood.org.
How to Donate Blood
To schedule an appointment to donate please call 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767) or visit redcrossblood.org for more information. Individuals who are 17 years of age (16 with parental permission in some states), meet weight and height requirements (110 pounds or more, depending on their height) and are in generally good health may be eligible to donate blood. Please bring your Red Cross blood donor card or other form of positive ID when you come to donate.
About the American Red Cross
The Indiana-Ohio Blood Services Region serves northern and central Indiana and northwestern Ohio, and needs to collect about 500 units of blood a day to meet patient need in more than 60 hospitals. In addition to providing blood to our community, the American Red Cross also provides relief to victims of disaster, trains millions in lifesaving skills, serves as a communication link between U.S. military members and their families, and assists victims of international disasters or conflicts.