Giving blood is an adventure—especially when you end up winning a national Vitalant giveaway! The Summer Adventure Gas Giveaway June promotion had 95,719 donors qualifying for the chance to win one of five $5,000 gift cards. The five winners were given the option to spend all the prize on a Mastercard gift card, or spread it out among about 200 different retailers, airlines, restaurants and more.
Though most donors say the gifts aren’t the main reason they give blood, it sure doesn’t hurt to win $5,000 to help with gas and other summer needs. Our five randomly drawn winners hail from Colorado, Illinois and Pennsylvania.
Congratulations to the winners — and to everyone who prioritized donating blood in June. We appreciate everyone keeping blood donation top of mind, especially during the summer months when blood donations typically decline.
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Our first winner is Maria F. of Colorado. With 17 lifetime donations, Maria tries to make blood donation fun.
Her qualifying donation was a joint birthday celebration with close friends. “We love to visit Vitalant around our birthdays each year and encourage friends to donate with us. Sometimes we'll bring cupcakes, party hats, and other treats to enjoy during donations!”
Maria said her grandmother, Jean, was her motivation to start donating blood. She also saw her parents giving blood regularly and emphasizing the importance of the routine.
“My grandma was the recipient of several blood transfusions, so I was motivated to first give in high school in order to support her and others who have benefitted from the gift of blood.”
There was a time when Maria stopped giving blood for several years, but she was motivated to donate again in 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic due to the nationwide blood shortage.
“My partner at the time and I joked that we were going to Vitalant so that we could safely hang out with our friends while social distancing. We started having 'blood parties' and encouraging our friends, partners and families to learn more about donating blood and joining us if they were able to. I'm so grateful for my good health and donating blood is a great way to support those who may be struggling with their health,” Maria said.
What might surprise you is that Maria still gets nervous when she donates blood.
“What has been helpful for me is to go with friends who can distract me. The time and the medical aspects of giving blood fly by if you can chat and laugh with your friends during the process. Having fun with your friends while helping to save lives is an amazing feeling.
“If you haven't given for years, or have previously been told you're not able to, I'd encourage you to review Vitalant's eligibility requirements. Requirements have changed a lot over the years, becoming much more inclusive of things like piercings, tattoos, medications, travel, and donations from members of the LGBTQ+ community. I have several friends who previously thought they couldn’t donate who are eligible now,” Maria added.
Anne H. — an Illinois donor with 20 lifetime donations — is our second winner. When she found out she won, Anne’s first reaction was, “This must be a scam!" She was pleasantly surprised to find out it wasn’t.
“I’ve been donating on and off over the past 50 years, since I was a teen,” Anne recalled. “I keep giving as I have folks in my life who have needed blood. My father died from leukemia, and my sister and a best friend had metastatic cancer and needed transfusions. I think everyone will have a friend or family member who will benefit from donated blood or plasma, so please give!”
Our third winner is Joseph P. of Colorado. Joseph started giving blood in 2024 and has three donations already. We are grateful to have Joseph as a new donor with us at Vitalant!
Rick W. of Colorado is our fourth winner. “I try to donate every 10 to 12 weeks, and I consider it like getting a mini checkup. I get my weight and blood pressure checked and later on, I get my cholesterol reported,” explained Rick, who has 40 lifetime donations. “More importantly, I know that I can help people who need help in this simple and convenient way.”
Rick said Vitalant makes his donations quick, easy and comfortable. “You can schedule your appointment in advance, and I've always been accommodated quickly and respectfully. There's really no reason not to donate, as long as you're healthy, and you might save someone who really needs help. Besides, you get free snacks!”
Virginia F. of Pennsylvania is our fifth winner. She has donated 41 times with Vitalant.
“I started giving blood in the 1980s. The blood bank was down the street from where I worked. I had heard of a need to give blood because it could help people who were sick or in need of it for operations,” Virginia said. “Through the years, I've worked at companies that have had blood drives, and I’ve continued to donate to do something good for the community.”
Virginia looks at it this way: “Give blood if you physically can. It is rewarding to know that someone can be helped with something your body continues to regenerate.”