The Editor reports that the University of Southern California (USC) and the University of California at Los Angeles (UCLA) are building on their famous cross-town football rivalry to promote a community-wide blood drive in Los Angeles via the Southern California Hospital Recruitment Alliance at participating hospitals that have blood collection sites. For details see these USC and UCLA news reports. The Webmaster wonders whether other universities have used school spirit activities such as this to promote blood donation in the past, or are considering this in the future.

The following responses have been received.

ADDENDA Oct. 29, 2004

1. A colleague at the medical center at the University of Michigan reports that Ohio State Unversity and University of Michigan have participated in a "Blood Bowl" each year going back as far as she can remember. It is sponsored by the fraternities and sororities.

2. A colleague in Texas reports that she has asked their local blood provider's Director of Collections to initiate a donor recruitment effort to tap into the school rivalry between Texas A&M (the 'Aggies') and the University of Texas (the 'Longhorns'). Historically these two schools have had their big football game the day before Thanksgiving, which is a good time to help boost the blood supply.

ADDENDA Nov. 4, 2004

3. The following news report from the Ohio State Lantern illustrates the blood drive efforts of those referenced by colleague submitting response #1 above.

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Ira A. Shulman, MD
CBBS e-Network Forum Editor & Moderator