National Blood Donor Month: A time for giving

In 1969, former President Richard Nixon proclaimed January as National Blood Donor Month — a time to raise awareness about the need for blood donations and to help those battling blood-related diseases, undergoing surgical procedures or patients recovering from severe injuries. 

In his official declaration, Nixon noted that the efforts of the American Red Cross — the nation’s largest blood supplier — and the American Association of Blood Banks, a nonprofit that sets standards for transfusions and blood banking, combined with technological advances, have led to a steady increase in the number of voluntary blood donors.

At UC Irvine, the Blood Donor Center hosted an on-campus drive on Jan. 8 and 9, aiming to attract more students on days when there was a surplus of nurses and staff. According to UCI Blood Donor Center supervisor Cristina Tetreault, roughly 70% of donors at the center are students, with the rest including staff and Irvine residents.

A poll of U.S. adults showed that only 15% of college students donated blood in 2021. From 2019 to 2021, donations from individuals 19 to 24 years old declined by about 3%. According to America’s Blood Centers and the Association for Blood Donor Professionals, the decreased donations from those aged 16 to 24 can “likely be linked to the limitations placed on blood drives at school campuses in 2021, primarily as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.”

January tends to be a challenging time for blood centers due to low donor turnout impacted by the holiday season and winter illnesses. This results in blood shortages that create a challenge for blood banks and hospitals to obtain blood for surgical procedures and other medical treatments.

To increase donor turnout, the UCI Blood Donor Center offered $10 gift cards with a shirt or tote bag to every donor throughout the month of January instead of the normal $5 gift card amount. 

However, some donors went to the center out of their desire to help rather than the lure of giveaways. 

Frequent donor and UCI School of Social Sciences graduate analyst Gianna Virgilio donates blood every couple of months. She donated for the first time in her 30s.

“I think my mom probably inspired me, because she used to donate blood and platelets. And so I just kind of thought oh, I can do that. And then I donated platelets once before, but mostly it was just blood,” Virgilio told New University. “I know that I can, and people need it. And I feel like since I can, I will, there is no reason why I can’t do it. So I think, you know, it’s important to me to do that while I’m able to.”

Jennifer Choy, a staff member in the UCI Department of Film and Media Studies, usually donates blood at UCI because it’s convenient and close to her workplace, often stopping by during her lunch break. The first time she donated blood was to accompany a friend who planned to donate and she ended up donating as well. Since then, she has visited the UCI Blood Donor Center at least 10 times. 

“One of my friend’s sisters got really sick and she needed a lot of blood,” Choy told New University. “I just kept coming here ‘cause it’s like during lunch break. And then a couple times at the Red Cross. It’s the easiest way to give back.” 

For people like UCI Women’s Soccer junior forward Jenika Davis, who was diagnosed with leukemia her first year at UCI, those donations made all the difference.

“I got a lot of blood donations and that’s kind of the main thing,” Davis told New University. “Then I got a bone marrow transplant eventually, and I am now in remission. My story, I was in the hospital for seven months, and I got blood throughout that entire year.” 

Those interested in blood and platelet donation can schedule appointments at the UCI Blood Donor Center in the Student Center or at another donation facility in Irvine.

Clara Carvalho is a Features Intern for the winter 2025 quarter. She can be reached at claraac@uci.edu.

Edited by Kaelyn Kwon and Bianca Marroquin

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