Miami's Greek Week blood drive 40 years old and counting

It's the Community Blood Center's largest and longest-standing blood drive

For the 40th year, Miami University sororities and fraternities will host the Greek Week Blood Drive.

This year’s blood drive will take place from 10:30 a.m.-6 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 25, and Wednesday, Sept. 26, in the Armstrong Student Center’s Donald W. Fritz Pavilion.

You can schedule an appointment with Community Blood Center online at www.DonorTime.com, or call 1-800-388-GIVE and use sponsor code 274. Everyone who registers to donate will receive a “Be The Good” stoneware coffee mug.

Greek life at Miami dates back to 1833, earning Miami the nickname “Mother of Fraternities.” Miami also became the birthplace of the Community Blood Center college blood drives with the first blood drive in 1978.

By 2001, Miami had expanded to 12 blood drives a year, an achievement that earned national recognition from America’s Blood Centers. It became a two-day blood drive in 2007 and is still the largest in the region and the blood center’s longest-standing blood drive partner.

“I am never surprised but always impressed to learn of our students’ service to others,” said Miami President Gregory Crawford. “This 40th anniversary of Greek Week being the largest annual blood drive for the Community Blood Center marks a little-known tradition for Miami – one with lifesaving implications. I encourage those who haven’t yet tried donating to also ‘roll up their sleeves’ for this great cause, remembering that every pint one gives helps save the lives of one-to-three people."

Donations help save lives

In the 2017-2018 academic year, Miami hosted eight student-sponsored blood drives, six faculty and staff-sponsored blood drives and the two-day Greek Week Blood Drive – a total of 16 days dedicated to helping save lives. They totaled 1,273 donors, including 454 first-time donors and 957 units of blood donated.

Greek Week combines community service and competition, with fraternities and sororities able to win points toward the overall Greek Week title by recruiting donors for the blood drive. But it is primarily a campuswide celebration with the blood drive open to all students, faculty and staff.

“Many Miami students have donated in high school,” said Sandy Baur, Community Blood Center account representative, “But last year, 119 Greek Week donors were donating for the first time.”

Baur added, “Many will continue to donate throughout their lives. Miami Greeks have helped establish a rich history of community service, helping others and saving thousands of lives.”