Sounders FC is coming #Together4SEA this Friday, April 24, as the club joins Bloodworks Northwest and the Seattle Mariners in the pair’s ongoing pop-up blood drive experience at T-Mobile Park. On Friday, donation appointments are being set aside for Sounders FC players, executives and staff, allowing the Rave Green to give back to the community through the safe, essential action of donating blood.
“We’re excited to work with our neighbors at the Mariners and our friends at Bloodworks Northwest, to provide a day for our organization to give back in a time of need,” said Sounders FC President of Business Operations Peter Tomozawa. “While isolating at home, I know many of us have felt a desire to find a way to help others and to come together, even while we’re kept apart. Giving blood is a small action we can all take, and Sounders FC is grateful to be able to contribute.”
MEDIA NOTE: Due to distancing requirements and limited space inside the donation area, a media presence is not allowed. However, Sounders FC is gathering video assets to share with interested outlets. Please contact a member of Sounders FC Communications.
Due to the COVID-19 crisis and the implementation of important stay-at-home measures, Bloodworks Northwest lost its ability to host one-day donor drives, severely restricting its ability to add to the state’s blood supply. Bloodworks Northwest serves more than 90 hospitals across the Northwest and helps over 55,000 patients receive lifesaving transfusions each year. Although hospitals are postponing elective surgeries for the time being, donations of blood of all types are still needed to support cancer patients, trauma victims, premature babies, or to treat severely ill COVID-19 patients, among others.
While Friday’s donation day is not open to the public, there remain opportunities for the public to donate as part of the Mariners’ and Bloodworks Northwest’s program. The original drive was slated to last for three weeks, ending on May 2, but, due to overwhelming interest from the community, it has been extended an additional four weeks, through the end of May.
An appointment is required for those interested in taking part in the public donation days. Appointments take one hour and are being conducted in accordance with social distancing guidelines. No walk-ins, guests, or people under the age of 16 are permitted onsite. Every donor booking an appointment on public donation days will receive two tickets to an upcoming Mariners game.
Bloodworks Northwest has posted information addressing questions and concerns for blood donors at BloodworksNW.org/Coronavirus.