ATLANTA – The Atlanta Falcons are throwing their support behind the American Red Cross and the tremendous need for blood donations in August.
Kicking off this important partnership Saturday, Aug. 11, Atlanta Falcons Cheerleaders will greet donors, sign autographs and take photos at designated metro-area Red Cross blood donor centers.
From Aug. 11- 23 the team will provide all participants a signed player’s card, a Falcons-Red Cross t-shirt and a chance to win a Falcons helmet signed by Head Coach Bobby Petrino, or two tickets to the Falcons preseason game against the Baltimore Ravens on Friday, Aug. 31.
“We’re excited to partner with the American Red Cross to help emphasize the need for blood donations during what is traditionally a slow time of year,” said Kendyl Moss, Atlanta Falcons Director of Community Relations. “We recognize the tremendous need, and are glad to be a resource to help in such a meaningful way.”
Low numbers of blood donations, which are typical in the summer, make it impossible to supply local hospitals with all of the blood they need for patients, say Red Cross officials, and there is no blood available from other states this time of year. An emergency call for more blood and platelet donors, issued in late June, is still in effect.
Currently, supplies of type "O" and "B" blood are especially low and donors with those blood types are urged to make a special effort to donate in August. The universal blood type, "O," is used extensively in emergency rooms since it can be safely given to all patients who need immediate transfusions.
To participate in the Atlanta Falcons/American Red Cross Blood Drive, please visit one of the donor sites listed below from Aug.11-23:
Albany: 1515 Dawson Road
Alpharetta: 3000 Old Alabama Rd, Suite 110*
Athens: 3525-3527 Atlanta Highway
Columbus: 7490 Veterans Parkway
Duluth: 3090 Premiere Pkwy, Suite 500*
East Point: 3645 Marketplace Blvd, Suite 180*
Gainesville: 311 Jesse Jewell Parkway Suite 102
Macon: 3755 Bloomfield Road Suite 12A
Marietta: 2145 Roswell Rd, Suite 110*
Midtown: 1955 Monroe Drive*
Sandy Springs: 1155 Hammond Drive, Building A*
Savannah: 25 Tibet Avenue
Stockbridge: 675 Southcrest Pkwy, Suite 120
Valdosta: 2517 Bemiss Road
*Denotes sites where Atlanta Falcons Cheerleaders will make an appearance on Saturday, Aug.11.
To learn more about the Falcons blood donation events, call 1-800-GIVE-LIFE (448-3543) or visit www.redcrossblood.org. Most healthy people age 17 or older, who weigh at least 110 pounds, can give blood.
