For the third year, LifeServe Blood Center is participating in the We Give Blood drive, a partnership between Abbott, the Big Ten Conference, and blood centers across the country – including LifeServe Blood Center.

Fans of the Hawkeyes, Cornhuskers, and all other Big Ten schools can not only donate blood at any LifeServe Blood Center mobile drive or donor center through December 4 to save local lives, but also can get perks. Each donor will earn an exclusive “We Give Blood” T-shirt branded with the school of their choice, as well as count their donation for their favorite Big 10 school. The Big Ten school with the most donations will earn $1 million.

“By tapping into something every sports fan understands and appreciates – rivalry – we hope to bring in a new generation of young blood donors,” said Tim Paluch, PR & Marketing Director at LifeServe Blood Center. “The future of the blood supply relies on new, young donors coming in for the first time, realizing how easy and impactful blood donation is, then becoming lifelong donors for decades to come.”

The winning school will be announced at the 2026 Discover Big Ten Football Championship Game on December 5. A live leaderboard will track donations in real time at BigTen.org/Abbott. 

Donors must be 18 years or older to receive their T-shirt and submit a donation for the school of their choice. Those donors can support their Big Ten school in three steps:

1. Donate blood at any LifeServe blood drive or donor center through December 4.

2. Take a photo at the blood drive or screenshot an email or digital confirmation of the donation.

3. Submit this at BigTen.org/Abbott or by texting GIVEBLOOD to 222688 (ABBOTT).

If a donor is deferred at donation, a shirt can still be redeemed while supplies last, but a vote for the school does not count. Take a photo at your donation site and follow the submission steps above.

Schedule your blood donation now with LifeServe. Every donation is more than a t-shirt and bragging rights: It can help impact up to three lives during a time of increasing blood shortages. 

For more information and to book your appointment, visit lifeservebloodcenter.org/We-Give-Blood or call 800.287.4903.

LifeServe Blood Center is a non-profit, community-based blood center that has served the needs of local hospitals and patients in our regions since 1947. As one of the 15 largest blood centers in the country, LifeServe provides blood products to more than 175 hospitals primarily in Iowa, Nebraska, South Dakota, and Illinois. LifeServe is committed to saving lives by providing premier service to volunteer blood donors and access to a safe, quality blood supply for hospitals and patients. Your donation with LifeServe will help save your neighbor, a friend or family member or a stranger on the street. YOU make a difference in YOUR community. For more information about blood donation or to schedule an appointment to donate blood, call 800.287.4903 or visit lifeservebloodcenter.org.