Last modified: Wednesday, December 7, 2005
“Battle for blood” yields record number of donations, IU victory
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Dec. 7, 2005
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. -- The results are in: Indiana University has won this fall's blood-donation competition with Purdue University.
IU won the annual Indiana vs. Purdue Blood Donor Challenge, a friendly competition that encouraged Indiana residents to donate blood. Between Oct. 3 and Nov. 11, participants donated blood in the name of either university at Indiana Blood Center, American Red Cross and South Bend Medical Foundation blood donor centers throughout the state.
IU alumni and fans donated 4,571 units of blood, compared to 3,098 units donated by Purdue alumni and fans. The total of 7,669 units donated is a record for the competition, easily surpassing the previous record of 5,164 set last year.
"Although Indiana and Purdue are fierce rivals in athletic competition, our two alumni associations have shown how well the two universities can work together in community service to benefit residents of our state," said Ken Beckley, president and CEO of the IU Alumni Association. "My counterpart at Purdue, Todd Coleman, and I are extremely proud of the response of our alumni. We hope to enhance this project through the years ahead."
This year's competition was the ninth Blood Donor Challenge. Purdue won last year's contest and leads the series 6-3.
IU's victory brought the "Blood Bucket" back to Bloomington. The trophy was presented to the university during halftime of the IU-Purdue Old Oaken Bucket football game on Nov. 19.
The Blood Donor Challenge is sponsored by the Indiana Blood Center, the IU Alumni Association and the Purdue Alumni Association, in conjunction with the American Red Cross and the South Bend Medical Foundation.
The IU Alumni Association serves the university and its more than 475,000 living graduates through programs, services and communications. One of the nation's largest alumni organizations, the IUAA strives daily to connect alumni and serve IU. For more information, visit https://www.alumni.indiana.edu or call 800-824-3044.
