UC Irvine and Angels team up for summer blood drives to benefit trauma patients, newborns
Donors will receive baseball tickets, chance to be on field during batting practice
June 13, 2011
UCI Health and Angels Baseball are partnering in a series of blood drives at Angel Stadium this summer to increase the supply for people in need at Orange County’s only Level I trauma center.
Blood reserves tend to run low during the summer. Seriously injured patients at UC Irvine Medical Center—which annually treats half of the county’s trauma victims—and newborns in its neonatal intensive care unit are particularly vulnerable to shortages.
Donors will get vouchers that can be exchanged at the stadium box office for two tickets to a future Angels game, valid on select dates. In addition, they’ll be entered in a drawing after every blood drive for four people to watch Angels batting practice from the field before a specified game. Winners—who will be notified by email within 48 hours of donating blood—will each receive an Angels goodie bag and four tickets to that game.
Donors must be at least 17 years old and may give blood only once every 56 days. They should be able to spend 45 minutes or so at the stadium on the day they donate.
Blood drives will take place in UC Irvine’s bloodmobile, which will be parked near the stadium ticket office and the giant red Angels caps on the following days:
- June 22: 10 a.m. - 4 p.m.
- June 28: 8 a.m. - 2 p.m.
- July 5, 20 and 30: 8 a.m. - 2 p.m.
- July 14: 10 a.m. - 4 p.m.
- Aug. 4 and 20: 8 a.m. - 2 p.m.
- Aug. 10 and 30: 10 a.m. - 4 p.m.
- Sept. 6: 8 a.m. - 2 p.m.
After donating blood, participants can walk over to the ticket booth and exchange their vouchers for game tickets. The Angels have set aside certain sections from which to choose seats. The box office is open from 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Monday through Saturday when the Angels are out of town or not playing and until the seventh inning on game days.
To make an appointment to donate, complete the online form and submit it. Check the website for additional rules about who can donate. For more information, contact UC Irvine at donateblood@uci.edu or 714-456-LIFE (714-456-5433).
About UC Irvine Medical Center: Orange County’s only university hospital, UC Irvine Medical Center offers acute- and general-care services at its new, 482,000-square-foot UC Irvine Douglas Hospital and is home to the county’s only Level I trauma center, American College of Surgeons-verified regional burn center and National Cancer Institute-designated comprehensive cancer center. U.S. News & World Report has included UC Irvine for 10 consecutive years on its list of America’s Best Hospitals, giving special recognition to its urology, gynecology, and ear, nose and throat programs.
