Latest news with #Vitalant
Yahoo
04-08-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Vitalant offers gift cards for August blood donors — here's how to sign up
SHILOH — Upcoming blood drives want to boost donations as summer activities and back-to-school preparations continue. According to a community announcement, Vitalant encourages eligible donors to give blood in August to help maintain a steady supply for patients in need. Donors who participate between Aug. 1 and Aug. 28 and are enrolled in Vitalant Donor Rewards will receive a $10 gift card and enter a drawing for one of three $10,000 gift cards in the Summer Gas Giveaway. Vitalant states that all blood types are needed, with a particular emphasis on type O and platelet donors. Type O blood can assist most patients in emergencies, while platelets are critical for cancer patients and those experiencing severe bleeding, according to the announcement. One upcoming blood drive will take place from 3-6:30 p.m. Aug. 27 at Planktown Market, 1921 Free Road, in Shiloh. Another drive is scheduled for 4-7 p.m. Aug. 25 at Pine View School, 16480 Chapel Road, in Danville. Appointments can be made at through the Vitalant app or by calling 877-25-VITAL (877-258-4825). This story was created by Jane Imbody, jimbody@ with the assistance of Artificial Intelligence (AI). Journalists were involved in every step of the information gathering, review, editing and publishing process. Learn more at This article originally appeared on Mansfield News Journal: Blood donors could win $10K in Vitalant's Summer Gas Giveaway Solve the daily Crossword
CBS News
16-07-2025
- Health
- CBS News
Aurora theater shooting survivor helps organize blood drive in honor of 12 killed
Sunday marks thirteen years since twelve lives were taken inside an Aurora movie theater. Dozens more were injured on July 20, 2012, and donated blood was a critical tool in saving many lives. In honor of the 12 people killed and the lives saved thanks to blood donations, a survivor of the theater shooting is helping to organize a first-ever blood drive at the Century Aurora Theater. Dylan Boxer was in theater 9 with a friend when the gunman opened fire. From his seat in the fourth row, not far from where the shooter entered the theater, Boxer narrowly escaped. "This is where I almost died," he said, standing in the parking lot of the movie theater. That same parking lot is where Boxer, now an account manager with Vitalant, has planned the mobile blood drive on July 20, 2025. "It's a chance to bring life back to where life was lost," said Boxer. "It's very poetic to have a life-saving event in a place on a day remembered in infamy for loss of life and tragedy. Having it here just seems right, and having it be on that day, it just clicks into place." Vitalant, one of the nation's largest nonprofits focused on blood and biotherapies, is working alongside the 7/20 Memorial Foundation for the mobile blood drive. The event will also include support from other theater shooting survivors, first responders, local leaders and other nonprofits. The goal is to fill every donation slot to save as many lives as possible during the nearly 5-hour blood drive. "The fact that we're doing the opposite of great harm [at the theater] and we're doing good, it really brings it full circle. We're saving lives now," Boxer said. "Each donation saves three lives." Organizers are encouraging donors to sign up online, via Vitalant's website, but walk-ins will also be accepted. 7/20 MEMORIAL MOBILE BLOOD DRIVE WHEN: Sunday, July 20, 2025, from 11:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. WHERE: On the bloodmobile in the parking lot of the Century Aurora Theater, 14300 E Alameda Avenue
Chicago Tribune
20-06-2025
- Sport
- Chicago Tribune
Naperville News Digest: Knox Presbyterian Church garden walk to benefit food bank; tennis tourney for adults, kids features round-robin format
Knox Presbyterian Church's annual garden walk featuring six Naperville-area gardens will be held from 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Saturday, July 12. Tickets are $15 and can be purchased weekdays at the Naperville church, 1105 Catalpa Lane, or online at Tickets purchased the day of the event are $20 cash or check and will be available from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at the church. Sponsored by the Presbyterian Women of Knox Church, proceeds will benefit the Northern Illinois Food Bank. The tours are self-guided and can be done in any order. The event will be held rain or shine. For more information, call the church at 630-355-8181. Registration continues through July 11 for Naperville Park District's Summer Slam all-city tennis tournament, which will be held Friday, July 18. Open to players of all ages, the tournament consists of multiple matches in a round-robin format, a news release said. Children ages 6 to 18 will be divided by age groups and play singles matches at Knoch Park, 724 S. West St.; Naperville North High School, 899 N. Mill St.; and the Nike Sports Complex, 288 W. Diehl Road. Times and locations will depend on age groups. Most youth tournaments begin at 3 or 4 p.m. Adults will play doubles matches between 6 and 9:30 p.m. at the Nike Sports Complex. Registration is $17 per person for residents and $26 per person for nonresidents. The park district is also offering weeklong 'A Taste of Tennis' instructional camps to teach the foundational skills of the sport to children and adults. Camps are scheduled for the weeks of June 23, July 7, July 14 and Aug. 4. Register for the tournament or the camps at A Save Our Summer Blood Drive's stop at the 95th Street Library is part of a larger effort by Vitalant to prevent a summer blood shortage and will be held in recognition of a young boy who benefited from blood donations. It will take place from 10 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Saturday, June 28, at the 3015 Cedar Glade Drive library. The Naperville stop is part of a larger effort that spans 15 donation centers and three community blood drives. The goal is to prevent a summer blood shortage, which is a common challenge when school breaks and vacations reduce donor turnout, a news release said. The Naperville drive recognizes Caleb Koenig, an 8-year-old from Plainfield whose life was saved by blood donors, the release said. Due to a rare genetic condition that put him at serious risk for bleeding complications, Caleb could not produce enough platelets on his own. In his first year, he required monthly transfusions, the release said. Blood donors will receive a Vitalant T-shirt, while supplies last. All donors in June will receive a $10 Rewards gift card and be entered in a drawing for one of two $10,000 gift cards. To schedule an appointment, go to
