The Community Blood Center of the Carolinas is offering local high school and college students the opportunity to save lives this summer, as well as a chance to earn a $1,000 scholarship for their secondary education – and even a gift card.

All students need to do? Host a successful blood drive with CBCC from June 1 to Sept. 30 as part of the local, nonprofit community blood center’s 9th Annual Students Saving Summer program.

The five students who host the top-producing blood drives will each receive a $1,000 scholarship, payable to the secondary educational institute of their choice. Students who collect at least 25 units at their blood drive will automatically earn a gift card of at least $50.

“Student donors are vital to the local blood supply, and keeping them engaged year-round is crucial to providing the blood products needed by local patients,” said Martin Grable, president and CEO of CBCC. “Students make up 25 percent of our donor base, so when schools let out for the summer and families go on vacation, blood donations take a hit. Our Students Saving Summer program is a great way for students to stay involved with the lifesaving act of blood donation throughout the summer months when patients in our local hospitals are counting on their support.”

A CBCC donor recruiter works with each student blood drive host throughout the planning process and the blood drive itself. Students will need to find a suitable location for the blood drive and recruit blood donors, CBCC will take care of the rest.

“We do all the heavy lifting,” said Erica Potts, Manager of Recruitment and Retention at CBCC. “We bring the equipment, the staff, even the snacks. All the students need to do is get their friends, family members and neighbors to roll up their sleeves and commit to make a difference for patients in need in our community.”

Students Saving Summer kicks off on Thursday, June 1, but CBCC encourages students to begin planning now to lock in a date and ensure their blood drive is successful. Students can host multiple blood drives throughout the summer to not only make a larger difference in the community, but also to increase their odds of earning a scholarship – and increase their gift card amount.

Since 2009, CBCC has awarded more than 400 scholarships and grants to local students. For more information on Students Saving Summer, call 1-888-59BLOOD or email student@cbcc.us.

Gift Card Rewards

Units collected Gift card amount

25-59 units $50

60-99 units $100

100+ units $150

About Community Blood Center of the Carolinas

The Community Blood Center of the Carolinas is the local nonprofit, community-based blood center and the primary blood supplier to the region’s hospitals. CBCC collects blood and blood products from volunteer donors in the community to return to the community at the lowest possible cost consistent with the highest possible standards. CBCC is a member of America’s Blood Centers, North America’s largest network of community-based, independent blood centers that provide more than 50 percent of the nation’s blood supply.

For more information on hosting a blood drive or donating blood in your area, visit www.cbcc.us or call 1-888-59BLOOD.

Follow the Community Blood Center of the Carolinas on Facebook http://www.facebook.com/BloodCenter, on Instagram https://instagram.com/cbccarolinas/ and on Twitter at www.twitter.com/CBCCarolinas.