For the 19th consecutive year, the Kansas City Chiefs and the Community Blood Center (CBC) will partner to host the Chiefs Week Blood Drive. Members of the community who wish to give the gift of life this holiday season can participate in Chiefs Week beginning today through Friday, Dec. 2. The drive includes a special event at Arrowhead Stadium.
"We are excited again to team up with Community Blood Center to host this blood drive and the donation event at Arrowhead on Friday," said Chiefs President Mark Donovan. "The Community Blood Center plays a vital role in Chiefs Kingdom and we look forward to another successful year of donations from staff and fans to make an impact in saving lives."
The special Chiefs Week Blood Drive event at Arrowhead Stadium will take place Friday, Nov. 25, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Chiefs players, Chiefs Alumni, KC Wolf and Chiefs Cheerleaders will drop by throughout the event to sign autographs and thank donors. Donors will be offered the opportunity to take a tour of Arrowhead Stadium at the drive.
"The Chiefs have been a wonderful partner, supporting our efforts to encourage more donors during the recurring seasonal dip in donations during the winter months," said Executive Director for Community Blood Center David Graham. "As people are busy with the upcoming holidays, school vacations, winter weather and planning the family's holiday travels, now is a critical time to donate and ensure that we maintain an adequate community blood supply."
In addition, there will be a special appearance by three-year-old blood recipient Kit Van Sickle, who was diagnosed with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (ALL), a cancer of the blood and bone marrow. Kit's diagnosis causes her to rely on red blood cell and platelet transfusions to help her body fight the harsh effects of chemotherapy.
"We cannot imagine a time that Kit or anyone else would need a transfusion and the supply was just not there," Cory Van Sickle, father of Kit Van Sickle, said. "We are thankful for blood donors because they are helping save Kit's life and the lives of countless others."
Donors who give blood during Chiefs Week will receive a commemorative Chiefs shirt (while supplies last) and will be entered into a drawing to win Chiefs items, including autographed team memorabilia and a ticket package to a Chiefs home game.
Donors planning to attend the event at Arrowhead can access parking in Lot E and enter the stadium through the Tower Gate on the south side of the stadium.
Donors may also visit any of the following CBC donor centers throughout Chiefs Week to participate:
- Kansas City, MO – 4040 Main Street
- Blue Springs, MO – 1124 SW US Highway 40
- Gladstone, MO – 7265 N. Oak Trafficway
- St. Joseph, MO – 3122 Frederick Avenue
- Overland Park, KS – 10568 Metcalf Ave., Times Square Shopping Center
- Topeka, KS – 6220 SW 29th Street
In order to donate you must be at least 16 years of age (parental consent required for 16 year olds), weigh a minimum of 110 pounds and be in generally good health. For more information on Chiefs Week and other community blood drives, or to locate a Community Blood Center Donation Center, call (877) 468-6844 or visit www.savealifenow.org.
Chiefs Week first began in 1998 as a single-day Chiefs Blood Drive, which collected 359 pints of blood. Since then, due to the kindness of committed donors and fans, the drive has expanded to an annual two- week event. Last year alone the drive collected 2,775 units during Chiefs Week.
The Kansas City Chiefs and the Hunt family have made corporate citizenship and charitable giving in the community a priority for the Chiefs. These efforts focus on many programs and organizations which improve the civic climate in our region, support families and children in crisis, improve health and wellness among children, as well as preserve the legacy and history of the game of football.
About Community Blood Center of Greater Kansas City (CBC)
Community Blood Center serves hospitals in the Greater Kansas City metropolitan area, as well as eastern Kansas and western Missouri. CBC provides nearly 200,000 blood products per year to 70 area hospitals – and relies on volunteer donors each day to meet the need for life-saving gifts of blood. CBC operates every day of the year to deliver safe, high-quality products to meet transfusion needs for routine care and emergencies.
