Superstars of the Civil War Blood Drive

Students Shahnaz Mooney and Sarah Lowe prove that “leadership is life” with their volunteer efforts

Of the millions of lifesaving blood donations made each year to the Red Cross, almost 20 percent come from high school and college drives. Two dedicated students have taken this statistic to heart. Shahnaz Mooney, from the University of Oregon, and Sarah Lowe, from Oregon State University, attend schools engaged in one of the nation’s oldest rivalries dating back to 1894.

These two volunteers have spent the past few years coming together to bring that 117-year-old competition, known as the “Civil War,” to the playing field of campus blood drives. With the statewide Civil War Blood Drive completing its tenth anniversary in 2011, fans, students, and alumni have spent over a decade donating more than 66,500 units of blood and platelets on behalf of the Beavers or Ducks.

On the campuses alone, OSU continually earns the title of largest single event blood drive for the region and participation at UO has climbed four-fold to match the challenge. Whether fans bleed green or orange, the real winners of the competition are hospital patients in need of transfusions during the winter months.

Many people help facilitate the success of these drives, yet without passionate student leaders like Sarah and Shahnaz, these numbers simply wouldn’t be possible. The Red Cross coordinates with these volunteers through their campus Blood Drive Association (BDA). With several hundred donors attending the drives, the BDA provides the publicity, volunteer training, and recognition efforts that connect the campus with the importance of donating blood.

“I’ve always really wanted to donate,” Shahnaz exclaims, “but because of deferrals from travel and the minimum weight criteria, I’ve always volunteered instead!”

Evidence of both students’ altruism began when they were much younger. Sarah embarked on her philanthropic path to volunteering as early as six years old, baking cookies at her church blood drives. She continued her efforts through blood drives at Newberg High School.

“The first time I gave blood was at my OSU orientation,” Sarah recalls. “The school energy surrounding the drive was so exciting to be a part of.”

Sarah quickly became BDA Vice President of Publicity and Director of Greek Recruitment. Her leadership efforts have led to her current position as President of the BDA and, in spring 2010, she began serving on the Pacific Northwest Blood Services Region Board of Directors. Sarah also takes active roles with Greek life, volunteers as a sexual assault prevention educator, and holds a part-time job in the campus union.

Following a similar path, Shahnaz traced her volunteer efforts back to when she was just 14. “I actually still have a Red Cross blanket I keep nearby,” Shahnaz laughed.

She carried her volunteering experience into Sherwood High School, supporting blood drives and earning the position of Freshman Class President. She then continued to hold Associated Student Board leadership roles until she became Student Body President, capping off her high school career by delivering the introduction for graduation. She was even awarded a Red Cross scholarship for her volunteer efforts with the High School Blood Drive Challenge program.

Even in her “off days” during summer break, Shahnaz volunteered countless hours supporting the “Music Saves Lives” Warped Tour blood drives and the Celebrate Freedom drive in Portland, earning her further recognition from regional leaders of the Red Cross.

Both schools have strong reputations for bringing in donors. Shahnaz attributes this to the culture at the universities, saying that “whether the students see banners, fliers, and table tents around campus, or are enticed by Buddy the Blood Drop, they all donate for the same reasons; to assist those in need, and to show school spirit.”

Sarah agrees, stating “The trophy and blood drop mascot make it fun to participate. It was amazing to see nearly a thousand donation appointments booked by the time of the first OSU campus drive this year.”

The pair has made volunteering a lifestyle; their experience and compassion will bring future blood drives to the next level. “The drives can only get bigger,” Sarah said. “I have faith that we’ll do great things in the future.”

“Everyone involved in the drives shows genuine care,” Shahnaz said. “Any way I can help the Red Cross, I will.”

Every year, thousands of student leaders across the country organize American Red Cross blood drives at their schools. For Sarah and Shahnaz, perhaps the fact that they’re now leading blood drives at rival colleges is for the best: although close friends and former sorority sisters, with the pair’s remarkable leadership and vision, one university may not be big enough for the both of them!

UO Ducks Lineman Saves A Life (and Red Cross demos "5 + 5")

With the Civil War Blood Drive finishing its 10-year anniversary this past fall, University of Oregon students are no strangers to helping save lives. The heroic actions of offensive lineman Mark Asper prove they're "already winning before the Rose Bowl," says KGW as they report on his efforts to save a "Duck dad" from choking on Wednesday night. Also featured in the video below is your very own Oregon Red Cross staff demonstrating the need for and correct action for helping a choking victim.

Brush up on your training by taking a CPR class, or review "Five and Five to Keep Them Alive" through this blog post (thanks to our Red Cross friends at the Central Valley chapter).

UO Ducks Win the Civil War Blood Drive Competition

Final Civil War Blood Drive Score: Ducks 3,416 – Beavers 3,173

The ten-year anniversary of the Civil War Blood Drive was a fierce competition this year and the numbers show how close the pursuit was to capture the annual trophy and bragging rights. The final numbers show that the University of Oregon Ducks prevailed with a 243 point difference. The Ducks had 3,416 blood drive ballots cast, the Oregon State University Beavers came in very close with 3,173 ballots entered.

For the second year in a row, the Ducks have been victorious in the Civil War Blood Drive. To view the full history of the blood drive campaign, visit civilwarblooddrive.com. The need for blood is constant; and it is especially important to have an ample supply during the winter season. For those wanting to help hospital patients by donating blood, please call 1-800-RED CROSS or visit redcrossblood.org to schedule your appointment. If you would like to make an appointment to donate platelets at the Clark County, Portland, or the Richland, Washington donor centers, please call 1-800-787-9691.

It is important to remember that the real winners of this healthy competition are hospital patients who are in need of blood and platelet transfusions throughout the year. Many people helped to facilitate making our ten-year Civil War Blood Drive anniversary a success. To all those who partnered, created, volunteered, promoted, supported, collected or gave blood and platelets, we are exceedingly thankful for your support.

Hello from the Erb Memorial Union on the beautiful University of Oregon Campus! My name’s Shahnaz, and I’m a student and Blood Drive Association member at the University of Oregon. We are now more than half-way through the week, and we are continuing to creep up on our rivals from Corvallis. This past weekend, we displayed our Pac-12 dominance in football by routing Stanford, and we are thirsty for more Pac-12 blood! When I asked students their views on the rivalry, most responded with something similar to what one donor said “we already know we are going to beat OSU in football, so we want to win in something else”. Watch out OSU, we are coming for you! Whether the students see banners, fliers, and table tents around campus, or are enticed by Buddy the Blood Drop, they all donate for the same reasons; to assist those in need, and to show school spirit. Students say they love being able to make a difference, and help save three people’s lives, all in about one hour.

There is still time to bleed orange or green for your team and assist those in need, so check out the campaign website for locations of blood drives around the state, and updated scores! If you would like to make an appointment call 1-800-RED CROSS or in Lane County call (541) 484-9111.

Photo Courtesy of Scott Waggoner.

Bleed Your Colors By Saturday, November 19th!

Rivals for Life Civil War Blood Drive - Midway Results

The Civil War Blood Drive between the University of Oregon Ducks and the Oregon State University Beavers ends on Saturday, November 19, 2011. Your blood or platelet donation can make a difference in which team will earn the 10-year Civil War Blood Drive anniversary trophy.

The score currently stands at OSU Beavers 2,065 votes and UO Ducks 1,500 votes.

Blood drives are scheduled across the state of Oregon and in Vancouver, Washington, and it is still anyone's game. So get out there and bleed orange or bleed green and help hospital patients in need! Donors can check the campaign website at www.civilwarblooddrive.com for locations of blood drives statewide and for up-to-date scores and a history of the Civil War Blood Drive campaign. Please call and make an appointment call 1-800-RED CROSS or in Lane County call (541) 484-9111.

SPREAD THE WORD AND HELP LEAD YOUR TEAM TO VICTORY!

Duck and Beaver Fans: A Second Way To Win Big!

Do you log on to OregonLive.com to catch up on news, weather, entertainment and most importantly....sports? This year, OregonLive continues as a sponsor for our 10th Anniversary Civil War Blood Drive...and offers you, the dedicated donors, a second way to win big!

Log on to OregonLive.com today and you'll notice that the front page is filled with OSU orange and UO green!

Follow the link to contests.oregonlive.com/cwblooddrive for a second way to win tickets to the game, $100 gift cards for OSU/UO gear and more! ...and don't forget to donate blood or platelets so you can truly say you "bleed orange" or "bleed green" for your team.

10th Anniversary Civil War Blood Drive Starts Tomorrow!

Rivals for Life - Do You Bleed Orange or Green?

Oregon State University and the University of Oregon Alumni Associations’ “Rivals for Life” Civil War Blood Drive will celebrate its ten-year anniversary this football season!

The annual football themed campaign does more than score points on the field —it helps save lives. Once again, both universities will unite for a common cause—the Statewide Civil War Blood Drive will run November 3 through November 19, 2011 and is sponsored by Oregon State University and University of Oregon Alumni Associations, and OregonLive.com.

Be sure to sign a “Civil War Blood Drive Ballot” when you come in to donate at any participating blood drive across the state of Oregon. The ballot will enter you in a drawing for one of several pairs of 2011 Civil War game tickets, a $100 certificate to the Ducks or Beavers store, or a Civil War party package!

During its ten-year history, fans, students, and alumni of both schools have seen nearly 60,000 presenting blood and platelet donors (8,385 in 2010) to help hospital patients during the two-week drive. The campaign helps ensure that medical needs of families and friends here and across the nation can be met during the winter months.

It is imperative to keep our blood supply ready and available—when and where it is needed. The blood collected during the Civil War Blood Drive helps bolster supplies at a time when holiday events distract us from regular blood donation. Unfortunately, illnesses and injuries requiring blood transfusion do not take a break for the holiday season and hospital patients still need blood.

Please schedule a donation on behalf of either the Ducks or the Beavers at any blood drive, statewide, between November 3 –19, 2011 by calling 1-800-RED CROSS, or in Lane County, call Lane Blood Center at 541-484-9111 or search for local drives at CivilWarBloodDrive.com. This is an ideal opportunity for any fan to make a tangible difference in the Civil War football rivalry.