By Jeffrey P. Gold, M.D.
President, University of Nebraska System
Every fall, millions of Americans turn their eyes to the Big Ten. We cheer from the stands and living rooms, united by school spirit and a love of the game. But this season, I hope we can focus our competitive energy on something even more meaningful. Something that doesn’t just score points, but saves lives.
This fall, the University of Nebraska is once again joining all of the Big Ten universities in the We Give Blood campaign, a collaborative effort with Abbott to address the critical blood shortage facing our country. From Aug. 27 through Dec. 6 — culminating on Big Ten Championship weekend — we’ll be encouraging students, faculty, staff, alumni and fans across our state to roll up their sleeves for a cause that touches all of us.
Last year, the University of Nebraska led the Big Ten with over 4,500 blood donations, earning top honors and a $1 million award from Abbott. It was an incredible show of generosity and impact. This year, we’re aiming even higher, with a goal of over 8,000 donations, and we need your help.
Why blood? Why now?
Because the need is urgent. Every two seconds, someone in the U.S. requires a blood transfusion. Patients undergoing surgery, cancer treatment, trauma care and chronic illness depend on a ready and reliable blood supply. Yet the number of donors is declining, and blood banks across the country are operating on razor-thin margins.
As a former pediatric heart surgeon, I cannot overstate the importance of blood donation. I’ve stood beside tiny patients whose lives quite literally depended on the generosity of someone they would never meet. Blood donation is one of the simplest yet most profound gifts we can offer. It costs nothing. It takes about an hour. And it can save up to three lives.
It’s also one of the few causes that truly unites us. Whether you wear red, blue, green or gold, we can all agree on the value of helping others. The We Give Blood drive offers a chance to show what the people of Nebraska are made of: compassion, service and a commitment to one another.
I’m proud that all campuses of the University of Nebraska are engaged in this effort, including our colleagues at UNMC, where several blood drives will take place this fall. But this drive is bigger than any one institution. It’s a call to action for our entire state. Whether you’re a student, an alum, a fan or simply someone who wants to make a difference, you can participate — and your donation can count toward Nebraska’s total.
Just visit http://bigten.org/abbott after you donate to log your gift. Every donation tracked helps us compete for this year’s $1 million award: funding that supports our students, strengthens our campuses, and creates opportunities across the university system.
But more importantly, every donation helps save a life. That’s a win that transcends any scoreboard.
As president of the University of Nebraska, I talk often about our mission: to educate, to serve and to lead. The We Give Blood campaign is all of those things. It’s an educational moment, reminding us of the role we each play in public health. It’s service at its most personal. And it’s leadership: not just in the Big Ten, but as a state that cares deeply for its people.
So I’m challenging our university community and everyone who calls Nebraska home: Join us. Be a donor. Be a champion for life.
Let’s show the Big Ten and the nation what Nebraska can do when we come together for a cause that truly matters.