Blog

Anheuser-Busch, sports partner, jointly support the American Red Cross's blood donation campaigns across the country

Given the COVID-19 pandemic, thousands of blood donations across the country were canceled when schools were closed and offices switched to virtual work, resulting in hundreds of thousands less blood donations and a critical lack of blood supply to needy patients. To address these challenges Budweiser, a pale American style bearing made by Anheuser-Buschlaunched their # OneTeam initiative in March as part of a $ 5 million / £ 4.06 million donation to american red cross – unite their sports partners to conduct blood donation campaigns in sports facilities, arenas and Anheuser-Busch tour centers across the country.

"This was an unprecedented time for our country and also a time to support each other," said Adam Warrington, Vice President of Better World at Anheuser-Busch. “Blood donation is important to ensure the health of those in need in our communities. By bringing our partners together to support the American Red Cross, we have been able to use our relationships and reach to save lives and give many an opportunity to get involved and provide a life-sustaining resource. "

As part of the partnership, Anheuser-Busch and his partners, together with the American Red Cross, have developed a framework to identify new blood donation sites and to manage the new regulations that are necessary for the safety of donors and employees.

"By transforming Gillette Stadium into a blood donation center, we were able to offer our fans the opportunity to make a difference in our local community when it was most needed," said Chris Starck, director of corporate partnerships at Kraft Sports + Entertainment.

"By partnering with Anheuser-Busch and the American Red Cross, we were able to turn an otherwise challenging time for our industry into an opportunity to educate consumers about a critical issue and encourage them to be part of something much larger than every single team. "

To date, the brewer and 30 of his sports team partners have performed more than 50 blood donation campaigns across the country, collecting 3,800 blood units to potentially save more than 11,400 lives. Further blood donations are planned in summer and autumn.

Almost 50% of these donations came from first-time blood donors as the program further raises awareness of the critical need for blood supply and encourages individuals to support their friends and neighbors in the midst of the health crisis.

"Congregations across the country rely on the Red Cross for help every day, and we knew that even during this coronavirus crisis, we needed to focus on the safety and availability of blood supplies for needy patients," said Chris Hrouda. President, Biomedical Services for the American Red Cross.

“Anheuser-Busch not only helped inspire donors across the country to make donations, but this relationship was also a model for other partners to come forward to help. We are very grateful for your support. "

Anheuser-Busch and the Anheuser-Busch Foundation have had a long and proud partnership with the American Red Cross in 1906. This includes supporting disaster relief as a member of the annual disaster relief program and supporting emergency personnel as a member of the Emergency Drinking Water Initiative Program to provide services to the armed forces and annual blood donations from personnel in their facilities. Since 2010, the company has performed more than 350 employee blood donations and provided 11,500 units to potentially save more than 34,500 lives.