The University Of Maryland Kicks-Off The 2026 Abbott And Big Ten ‘We Give Blood' Drive As U.S. Faces Blood Supply Crisis
8/26/2026 11:22:00 AM | General
The University of Maryland is calling on students, alumni and fans to donate blood to bolster national blood supply, compete for $1 million grant
COLLEGE PARK, MD -- The University of Maryland Athletics department is calling all Terps to donate blood during the Abbott and the Big Ten "We Give Blood" drive, a nationwide competition to turn school pride into life-saving action.
For only the second time in its history, the American Red Cross has declared a national blood crisis after donations dropped to a four-year summer low, threatening the availability of lifesaving blood for patients across the country.
The competition officially kicks off Aug. 26, but to help address current shortages, Abbott and the Big Ten will honor any blood donations made starting August 12. Terps from across the country can get involved as early as today by logging any blood donation made on or after August 12, or by scheduling a blood donation at their nearest blood drive or center. While any donation made at any blood center in the U.S. between August 12 and Dec. 4 can count towards the competition, the first 300 donors in the Washington, D.C., Maryland and Virginia (DMV) area that donate at any of the following upcoming drives will receive a free ticket to the Maryland football game vs. Hampton on September 5:
"I want to encourage all of Terp Nation to get out there to their local blood drive and give blood," said Jim Smith, the Barry P. Gossett Director of Athletics at Maryland. "It really does make a difference in people's lives. There's a massive blood shortage in this country. We all have an opportunity to be able to give blood and give back and be a part of making someone else's life a little bit better. When you can give 30 minutes of your time and give blood, you know you're making a difference in someone else's life, and that feels pretty good."
Inspiring a new generation of donors
In addition to addressing current shortages, the "We Give Blood" competition also aims to help fuel a new generation of donors. Today, nearly a quarter of all blood donations come from people over 65, many of whom will eventually be unable to donate. With only about 3% of those in the U.S. eligible to donate doing so, the need to recruit new donors is urgent. In the Big Ten community-population alone, its nearly 40 million people are likely eligible but may not yet be giving blood. If 1 in 15 of those people commit to donating blood into the future, that would close the gap left by an aging donor population.
'We Give Blood' at The University of Maryland
In the competition's first two years, more than 100,000 total donations helped save as many as 300,000 lives. Each school's efforts helped secure a sustainable blood supply that the health system will depend on for decades to come: nearly one-third of student donors last year gave blood for the first time, and 96% said they would do it again.
Last year, Maryland students, fans, and alumni from across the country played a significant role in saving lives while competing for their school:
How to participate
Students, fans and alumni who donates blood anywhere in the U.S. between Aug. 12 and Dec. 4 can count their donation for The University of Maryland in three easy steps:
1. Donate blood at any blood drive or blood center in the U.S.
2. Take a photo or save your donation confirmation.
3. Log it at BigTen.org/Abbott or text GIVEBLOOD to 222688 (ABBOTT).
Donation totals will be tracked on a live leaderboard at BigTen.org/Abbott throughout the campaign.
People who show up to donate and log their donation made from Aug. 12 to Dec. 4 will be eligible to receive an exclusive, limited-edition Maryland T-shirt while supplies last* and help their school be one step closer to winning $1 million from Abbott to advance student or community health.
About the 'We Give Blood' drive
"We Give Blood" is a nationwide blood donation competition presented by Abbott and the Big Ten Conference, now in its third year. All 18 Big Ten universities compete for the most recorded donations, with the winning school receiving a $1 million grant from Abbott to advance student or community health. In its first two years, the campaign generated more than 100,000 donations collectively and helped save as many as 300,000 lives.
For only the second time in its history, the American Red Cross has declared a national blood crisis after donations dropped to a four-year summer low, threatening the availability of lifesaving blood for patients across the country.
The competition officially kicks off Aug. 26, but to help address current shortages, Abbott and the Big Ten will honor any blood donations made starting August 12. Terps from across the country can get involved as early as today by logging any blood donation made on or after August 12, or by scheduling a blood donation at their nearest blood drive or center. While any donation made at any blood center in the U.S. between August 12 and Dec. 4 can count towards the competition, the first 300 donors in the Washington, D.C., Maryland and Virginia (DMV) area that donate at any of the following upcoming drives will receive a free ticket to the Maryland football game vs. Hampton on September 5:
- Aug. 26: University of Maryland Alumni Association Blood Drive at the Samuel Riggs IV Alumni Center
- Aug. 28: American Red Cross Montgomery County Chapter House Blood Drive (Silver Spring, Maryland)
- Aug. 26 to Sept. 3: American Red Cross Columbia (Maryland) Donor Center
- Aug. 26 to Sept. 3: American Red Cross Lanham (Maryland) Blood and Platelet Donation Center
"I want to encourage all of Terp Nation to get out there to their local blood drive and give blood," said Jim Smith, the Barry P. Gossett Director of Athletics at Maryland. "It really does make a difference in people's lives. There's a massive blood shortage in this country. We all have an opportunity to be able to give blood and give back and be a part of making someone else's life a little bit better. When you can give 30 minutes of your time and give blood, you know you're making a difference in someone else's life, and that feels pretty good."
Inspiring a new generation of donors
In addition to addressing current shortages, the "We Give Blood" competition also aims to help fuel a new generation of donors. Today, nearly a quarter of all blood donations come from people over 65, many of whom will eventually be unable to donate. With only about 3% of those in the U.S. eligible to donate doing so, the need to recruit new donors is urgent. In the Big Ten community-population alone, its nearly 40 million people are likely eligible but may not yet be giving blood. If 1 in 15 of those people commit to donating blood into the future, that would close the gap left by an aging donor population.
'We Give Blood' at The University of Maryland
In the competition's first two years, more than 100,000 total donations helped save as many as 300,000 lives. Each school's efforts helped secure a sustainable blood supply that the health system will depend on for decades to come: nearly one-third of student donors last year gave blood for the first time, and 96% said they would do it again.
Last year, Maryland students, fans, and alumni from across the country played a significant role in saving lives while competing for their school:
- With 1,440 total donations in 2025, the University of Maryland came in sixteenth place in the "We Give Blood" drive in 2025.
- Maryland increased its number of donors by nearly nine times (886% over 2024) – the highest year-over-year growth of any school in the competition.
- Maryland's growth was driven by their fans, who donated 14.5 more compared to 2024. 42% of Maryland's total donations came from out-of-state – a testament to the Terps' strong alumni and fan base around the country.
- Of Maryland's student donations, nearly 1 in 2 donors (46%) were first-time donors – one of the highest percentages of any school in the competition.
How to participate
Students, fans and alumni who donates blood anywhere in the U.S. between Aug. 12 and Dec. 4 can count their donation for The University of Maryland in three easy steps:
1. Donate blood at any blood drive or blood center in the U.S.
2. Take a photo or save your donation confirmation.
3. Log it at BigTen.org/Abbott or text GIVEBLOOD to 222688 (ABBOTT).
Donation totals will be tracked on a live leaderboard at BigTen.org/Abbott throughout the campaign.
People who show up to donate and log their donation made from Aug. 12 to Dec. 4 will be eligible to receive an exclusive, limited-edition Maryland T-shirt while supplies last* and help their school be one step closer to winning $1 million from Abbott to advance student or community health.
About the 'We Give Blood' drive
"We Give Blood" is a nationwide blood donation competition presented by Abbott and the Big Ten Conference, now in its third year. All 18 Big Ten universities compete for the most recorded donations, with the winning school receiving a $1 million grant from Abbott to advance student or community health. In its first two years, the campaign generated more than 100,000 donations collectively and helped save as many as 300,000 lives.
Wednesday, August 26
Wednesday, August 26
Wednesday, August 26
Wednesday, August 26
