Each year, Kent State University Health Services partners with LifeShare Community Blood Services, a non-profit organization committed to providing safe and clean blood for patient healthcare in Northeast Ohio, for a blood drive on campus.

The blood drive is taking place this week, Tuesday through Thursday, from noon to 7 p.m. in the Kent Student Center in room 310AB. Those who participate in the drive will be offered a $6 Subway gift card, as well as a $500 tuition scholarship.

“What is very unique about LifeShare is that … every 40 units of blood collected creates a $500 scholarship,” said Coordinator of the Office of Student Health Promotion Scott Dotterer, who organizes the event.

According to Dotterer, in the past 10 years, LifeShare has based units of blood donated and collected over 11,700 units of blood.

The scholarship incentives then total out to 330 $500 scholarships, accumulating a total of $165,000, which LifeShare has given in scholarships to Kent State for hosting the event.

Those who attend the drive do not have to donate blood to be eligible to apply for the scholarship. Applications will be held at the blood drive, online and among different departments across campus.

“You can give blood every 60 days,” Dotterer said. “So for whatever reason someone cannot donate at those times, we’ve created different dates throughout the school year to participate.”

From previous years, there is a 300-person expectancy for the upcoming drive. Students, staff, alumni and community members are encouraged to attend the drive because just one pint of blood can save up to three lives.

“When someone donates a pint of blood, we call it the gift of life because it is sustaining the life of someone who truly needs it,” Dotterer said.

The university’s health services is not the only department on campus who partners with LifeShare for a blood drive, though: The Student Recreation and Wellness Center, and the College of Business Administration participate as well.

Nicole Zahn is a recreation sports / wellness reporter, contact her at [email protected].