Giving Tuesday 2015: Heartland Blood Center Launches 12 Day of Giving Drive to Save Lives This Holiday Season

Woodfield, Illinois' Largest Shopping Mall, is Host to Massive Holiday Blood Drive, December 18-31

Submitted by Patti Thomas

The season of giving just got real. The ultimate gift of saving a life, rather 6,000 lives, is the goal for a massive blood drive taking place in Woodfield Mall over "12" days this holiday season. Set your appointment now at www.heartlandbc.org or text GIFT to 444-999.

The 12 Days of Giving, the largest blood drive by the area's leading blood center, takes place from December 18 - December 31, 2015, at Woodfield Mall in Schaumburg with a goal of recruiting 2,000+ blood donors. Since each donation can save up to 3 lives, Heartland Blood Centers' mission during the 12 Days of Giving is to touch 6,000 lives via the Woodfield donor event.

"The holiday hullabaloo tends to make blood donation fall to the bottom of the to-do list, so in order to help make it easy for donors to give, we've moved some of our staffers to this temporary mall location and are at the ready to help volunteers give the ultimate gift," says Amy Smith, Director of Donor Recruitment for Heartland Blood Centers.

Heartland is a not-for-profit; independent organization serving 65 hospitals in the area and the need for blood is continuous, Smith said. "Ample blood supplies are always needed and in a time of tragedy and need, it's the blood donations on the shelf that are used first. By locating in one of the Midwest's largest malls, we can assure that we reach new donors during this holiday season."

Kicking off December 18, Santa will take time from his busy schedule to donate blood, and encourage mall-goers to come into the donation center through Door #6 (across from the Cheesecake Factory). In addition to the gratification of saving a life, donors will receive special thank-you items, from gift cards to free gift wrapping and more. Check the Heartland web site for more info. While at the donation center, participants can also take a special red carpet selfie with Charlie Corpuscle and post with #HeartlandBloodCenters to encourage others to donate as well.

To cap off the "12 Days of Giving" campaign on December 31, Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) will host a special event to reveal how blood donations have impacted those injured on New Year's Eve.

More than 15 companies are sponsoring the blood drive, including premier event sponsor 2016 Chicago

Auto Show who is supplying 2,000 tickets to thank donors.

Additional special events and donor gifts for the "12 Days of Giving" include:

• Santa's blood donation

• 2016 Chicago Auto Show tickets

• Auntie Anne's gift cards

• Chick-fil-A SANTACow's visit and gift cards

• Jimmy John's gift cards

• Kinfork gift certificates

• Level 257 free 30 minutes of games

• Mayors' Challenge event

• Moretti's free pizza

• Nestle cookie giveaway

• PF Chang's appetizer gift cards

• Rogers and Hollands giveaway

• Star Wars character appearances

• VIP Chicago Comedy Improv passes

In addition to the Woodfield event, Heartland's 14 offices and mobile drives will also operate during the 2 Days of Giving.

For more information on how to schedule an appointment to donate, visit

heartlandbc.org or text GIFT to 444-999.