ABC7 Great Chicago Blood Drive breaks record with more than 2.8K units donated
CHICAGO (WLS) -- The 2024 Great Chicago Blood shattered records, collecting 2,802 units of blood for the American Red Cross at a time when there is a historic shortage.
It's the 10th year for the event, which is the largest blood drive in the country.
The blood drive was held Wednesday and Thursday at six locations around the Chicago and Northwest Indiana areas.
Donations were taken from 7 a.m.-7 p.m. at all locations.
Blood can be safely donated every 56 days.
ABC7 meteorologist Cheryl Scott and host/reporter Hosea Sanders were part of the station's live coverage once again this year.
"We are proud to continue our long partnership with the American Red Cross," said John Idler, president and general manager of ABC7 Chicago. "Together this program has gotten bigger and better with each year, and we look forward to new heights in 2024. Our team continues to be dedicated to this awe-inspiring blood drive effort that is vital to our community and helps save so many lives."
Mark Thomas, interim CEO of the Red Cross of Illinois, said, "For the 10th year, the Red Cross is again extremely proud to partner with ABC 7 on the Great Chicago Blood Drive. Since the beginning, this incredible, broad-reaching drive has brought Chicagoland together to save lives through blood donation. The ABC 7 Great Chicago Blood Drive has become the largest Red Cross blood drive in the country, growing from a single location to a two-day event in six locations across the city, suburbs and northwest Indiana. We encourage everyone who is able to sign up to donate at this amazing event. We never know when someone in our family may need lifesaving blood. Only through the generosity of donors is blood available to hospitals for important patient needs such as cancer, surgeries, accidents, trauma, blood conditions such as sickle cell disease, and much more. We are grateful to ABC 7 for making this amazing event possible for 10 years."
The 2024 event marks the 10th year ABC7 Chicago and the American Red Cross will have joined forces for the Great Chicago Blood Drive, setting the bar as the largest Red Cross blood drive in the entire country. Even a pandemic didn't stop the determination of ABC7 viewers, who came out in large numbers to donate. The response to ABC7's live coverage of the drive was so remarkable that the blood drive has been expanded to six locations over two days in the Chicago area.
Blood donations, especially in the winter months, are critical. Every two seconds someone in the United States needs blood, yet the American Red Cross estimates that only 3% of the population actually donates. All blood types are needed and a single blood donation can save more than one life.
Appointments are strongly encouraged. Make one now at RedCrossBlood.org Sponsor Code: ABC7Chicago. As always, people can also call 1-800-RED CROSS to make an appointment. They can also make an appointment via the Red Cross Blood Donor App which can be downloaded from the App store.
All presenting donors will receive a free ABC7 Great Chicago Blood Drive T-shirt (while supplies last).
Create new beginnings and energy for those in need. Donate blood with the American Red Cross at the ABC7 Great Chicago Blood Drive.
Wednesday, Jan. 17:
THE MART
222 W. Merchandise Mart Plaza, Chicago, IL, 60654
Hyatt Regency Schaumburg
1800 E. Golf Road, Schaumburg, IL, 60173
Highland Parks and Recreation Fieldhouse
2450 Lincoln St., Highland, IN 46322
Thursday, Jan. 18:
Imani Village
901 E. 95th St., Chicago, IL 60619
Foglia YMCA
1025 N. Old McHenry Road, Lake Zurich, IL 60047
Tinley Park Convention Center
18451 Convention Center Drive, Tinley Park, IL 60477
Highland Parks and Recreation Fieldhouse
2450 Lincoln St., Highland, IN 46322
About ABC7/WLS-TV Chicago
ABC7/WLS-TV Chicago is the No. 1 local news source and most-watched television station in Chicago. With top-rated daily newscasts spanning decades and the largest social media presence in the market with more than 2.6 million Facebook followers, ABC7 Eyewitness News provides breaking news, investigative reporting, weather, politics, traffic and sports in the multiplatform space toChicago, the suburbs and northwest Indiana. Named Best News Operation by the Associated Press for four consecutive years, ABC 7 Eyewitness News produces "Chicago Proud," a series of features that spotlights everyday heroes in and around Chicago.The station also produces the highest-rated New Year's Eve special in Chicago, holiday kickoff special "The Magnificent Mile Lights Festival," syndicated to a national audience, as well as the award-winning program series "Our Chicago," which showcases the city's diversity and highlights contributions in the Black, Hispanic, Asian, LGBTQ+ communities, among others.Every Friday, Windy City Weekend, entertains while giving Chicagoans everything they need to know about what's happening in the city. ABC 7 is the only Chicago station producing and broadcasting parades representing Chicago's rich cultural history. In addition to producing town halls focused on current social issues, the station has a long and proud tradition of broadcasting political candidate debates keeping Chicago's electorate informed.ABC7's outreach efforts include annual partnerships with the Red Cross for life-saving blood drives, one of the biggest one-day drives in the country and, most recently, spearheading an effort to raise more than $1.5 million for area food pantries.
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