University of Nebraska Wins Abbott and Big Ten Conference National ‘We Give Blood Drive’ Competition, Receives $1 Million Grant from Abbott

• Nearly 20,000 students, alumni and Big Ten fans nationwide donated blood as part of the drive Abbott-Big Ten National Championship this college football season, helps save as many as 60,000 lives
• Nebraska’s victory was announced at the Discover Big Ten Football Championship Game where the university hosted 1 million dollars from a global healthcare company Abbott improve the health of students and the community
• The competition, which will return next fall, aims to help fight the greatest need for blood in a generation while helping to create new lifelong blood donors

ABBOTT PARK, Ill., i INDIANAPOLIS, December 7, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — This college football season, Abbott (NYSE: ABT) and the Big Ten put the fandom and hearts of the Big Ten community to the test with its inaugural blood drive, “Donating blood.”

Nearly 20,000 Big Ten students, alumni and fans across the country donated blood as part of the contest. With each donation saving up to three lives, the competition has helped save as many as 60,000 lives. The competition has contributed to alleviating the current blood shortage across the country and educating people about the need for blood while inspiring blood donation across the country.

The University of Nebraska-Lincoln took home the victory, accepting the “Donating blood” trophy during the Discover Big Ten Championship Game, as ia 1 million dollars a check from a global healthcare company Abbottwhich the university will use to improve the health of students and the community.

“There are many reasons I’m proud to be a Nebraskan, and this is one of them,” he said University of Nebraska President Jeffrey P. GoldMD “As a cardiac surgeon, I have repeatedly seen how important blood products can be to save lives, and as president University of NebraskaI have also seen firsthand the generosity of spirit and passion for helping others shared by so many of our students, faculty and staff. It doesn’t hurt that Nebraskans really like to win.”

“Over the past few months, we’ve watched students across the Big Ten step up and commit to giving blood, many of them first-time donors,” he said. Robert Ford (NYSE:)president and chief executive officer, Abbott. “Our goal was to organize a fun inter-school competition to help solve the biggest blood shortage in a generation and create the next generation of blood donors. Big Ten students, alumni and fans rolled up their sleeves and did just that, saving tens of thousands of lives.”

“Donating blood” aims to help build the next generation of blood donors at a time when the nation is facing one of the worst blood shortages in a generation and when the rate of donors between the ages of 19 and 24 has fallen by nearly a third in recent years, more than half of donors in “.Donating blood“Blood drives on campus donated blood for the first time.

Blood donation is needed for a variety of medical reasons, including trauma and accident victims, individuals undergoing cancer treatment, postpartum mothers, and premature infants such as Lincoln, Nebraskadomestic Genevieve Wrightnow 9. During the first month of her life, Genevieve received multiple transfusions and constant blood products after being born with a rare condition called severe fetal hydrops, which gave her less than a 2% chance of survival.

“Donating blood is imperative for many, including my little girl who would not be here today without the generosity of countless Nebraskans who donated blood that saved her life,” said Genevieve’s mother. Shelly Wrightfrom Lincoln. “These donations have given Genevieve the opportunity to grow, prosper and have a fulfilling life “and not a day goes by that I am not grateful for that.”

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“Thank you to the nearly 20,000 people across the country who came forward to donate blood at this critical time when the nation is experiencing one of the worst blood shortages in a generation,” said Tony Petitti, Big Ten Conference Commissioner. “Congratulations University of Nebraska-Lincoln to conquer 1 million dollars support for improving the health of students or the community! Tens of thousands of lives will be saved together. We are all grateful Abbott for their important work and for their partnership with Big Ten Conference.”

“Donating blood“The blood donation competition lasted throughout the college football season, from September 26 to December 6and will be back next football season. Donation totals are tracked live, and final results by school are available at BigTen.Org/Abbott.

Participants donated blood on campus and in blood centers in the surrounding area OUR and upload proof of donation to the campaign website to have their donation count toward their Big Ten school. Participants were entered into a raffle drawing for two tickets to the Discover Big Ten Championship Game “ and received a free one-month subscription to B1G+, the conference’s streaming service.

ON Big Ten Conference:
Big Ten Conference is an association of world-class universities whose member institutions share a common mission of research, graduate, professional and undergraduate teaching and public service. Founded in 1896, the Big Ten has maintained a comprehensive set of common practices and policies that enforce the priority of academics in the lives of students who compete in intercollegiate athletics and emphasize the values ​​of integrity, honesty and competitiveness. Big Ten Conference sponsors 28 official sports, 14 for men and 14 for women, and the broad programs of 18 Big Ten institutions provide direct financial support to more than 14,000 student-athletes. For more information, visit BigTen.org.

About Abbott:
Abbott is a global leader in healthcare that helps people live more fully at all stages of life. Our portfolio of life-changing technologies spans the entire spectrum of healthcare, with leading businesses and products in diagnostics, medical devices, nutritional products and branded generics. Our 114,000 colleagues serve people in more than 160 countries.

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