Chiefs, Royals, Sporting KC, and KC Current teamed up to boost the region’s blood supply ahead of FIFA World Cup, collecting 120 donations in one day
Community Blood Center (CBC) and all four of Kansas City’s major professional sports teams—the Kansas City Chiefs, Kansas City Royals, Sporting KC, and KC Current—teamed up to host the “We Bleed KC” blood drive on Monday, May 18.
“Every blood donation is a lifeline for patients in our KC community,” said Chelsea Tibbetts, Vice President of Operations at Community Blood Center. “We’re grateful for the support of Kansas City’s pro teams and every donor who helped us collect an amazing 120 donations. These lifesaving donations have the potential to impact 360 lives and are crucial in helping us prepare for a busy summer ahead.”
The effort brought together the city’s most iconic franchises around a shared goal: strengthening the region’s blood supply as Kansas City prepares to welcome the world for the upcoming FIFA World Cup matches. With summer trauma season approaching and travel expected to increase throughout the tournament, consistent blood donations will be critical to meeting patient needs.
Healthcare professionals typically see a rise in serious injuries during the late spring and summer months due to increased travel, outdoor recreation, boating incidents, and holiday activity. At the same time, blood donations often decline because of school breaks, vacations, and holiday schedules, creating added strain on the blood supply during a critical period for patients. This year, spring blood donations have not rebounded as strongly as anticipated following a difficult winter season.
To help encourage donations during the holiday week, those who come to donate at any CBC donor center or blood drive between Wednesday, May 20th and Wednesday, May 27th will receive a packable picnic blanket to celebrate the unofficial start of summer.
Memorial Day weekend also serves as the kickoff to CBC’s broader “Be the Reason Summer Feels Brighter” initiative, a seasonal effort focused on maintaining a stable blood supply throughout the challenging summer months through community partnerships, donor appreciation campaigns, special events, and ongoing public awareness efforts. Donors can visit savealifenow.org/reason to view upcoming summer donation opportunities, learn about additional summer donor promotions, and find convenient locations to donate.
