The Preds Foundation has been partnering with the Red Cross for a number of years, but no one foresaw the numbers in 2020. For comparison, the Predators helped to save up to 531 lives in 2017 - still impressive, but nowhere near what the two parties were able to accomplish in the toughest year most of us have ever faced.
"I would never have believed that we would have this type of community engagement," American Red Cross Regional Donor Services Executive for Tennessee Garry Allison said. "It's just absolutely outstanding, and the winners are the patients. There are thousands of people across Tennessee that are celebrating milestones because of the support that the Predators have given us, and that's just absolutely outstanding."
During a typical season, the Preds would have hosted two blood drives at Bridgestone Arena, sometimes before a game later that night. Of course, life changed in 2020, and those typical drives weren't able to be held, but the need still existed. Allison got together with Predators Vice President of Community Relations Rebecca King and quickly realized this could be done on a much larger scale.
Drives were set up all over the region - Tennessee, Kentucky and Alabama - options for any fan that wanted a place to give blood and make a difference. Allison says more than 35 locations were set up across the Southeast, and participants didn't hold back.
"If we continue with the engagement that we currently have, we're going to be able to collect 6,000 units this year and potentially help save up to 18,000 lives by the Preds actually doing the same amount of publicity and everything that they were three years ago," Allison said. "It's just that momentum and how we've developed and grown the relationship. We didn't get there overnight, but it's just something that is absolutely outstanding."
Allison also emphasized that while the number of patients directly impacted is exceptional, that number goes far beyond just those who have received the blood.
"When you look at the overall engagement of the community, every person that was touched by that blood donation, their whole family celebrated a milestone in their lives," Allison said. "While you can engage directly with 10,000 people, think about the average size of a family. People are able to celebrate another birthday with their dad, or a burn victim was able to get another treatment, or somebody was able to have that additional cancer treatment to fight their battle with cancer as well. That 10,000 is just direct, but the impact that it truly has on people's day-to-day lives within their family is astronomical."
The Predators and the Red Cross plan to continue these drives throughout 2021 and beyond, and the Red Cross is now offering an option to sign up for what Allison would call a "subscription" on their website and commit to donating blood every time a drive is held. Fans can
visit RedCrossBlood.org
and use the code "Preds19" to schedule appointments in the months to come and make a lifesaving impact in the community.
While the Preds may not be able to have 17,159 fans inside Bridgestone Arena for a game, the organization is hopeful to reach that number and beyond through donations.
"I believe the Nashville Predators have become a pillar to healthcare in our community because of the enhanced relationship with the American Red Cross," Allison said. "That's just absolutely outstanding."
