University of Wisconsin looks to defend title in the 2026 Abbott and Big Ten ‘We Give Blood' drive as U.S. faces blood supply crisis
August 26, 2026 | General News
UW is calling on students, alumni and fans to donate blood to bolster national blood supply, compete for $1 million grant
MADISON, Wis. — University of Wisconsin Athletics is calling all Badgers to donate blood during the Abbott and the Big Ten "We Give Blood" drive, a nationwide competition to turn school pride into life-saving action. Champions of the 2025 "We Give Blood" competition, the Badgers are out to defend their title and make an even impact on the national shortage.
For only the second time in its history, the American Red Cross has declared a national blood crisis after donations dropped to a four-year summer low, threatening the availability of lifesaving blood for patients across the country.
The competition officially kicks off Aug. 26, but to help address current shortages, Abbott and the Big Ten will honor any blood donations made starting August 12. Badgers from across the country can get involved as early as today by logging any blood donation made on or after August 12, or by scheduling a blood donation at their nearest blood drive or center. While any donation made at any blood center in the U.S. between August 12 and Dec. 4 can count towards the competition, donors in the local Madison, WI area can attend any of the following upcoming drives:
"The 'We Give Blood' drive is about turning Badger pride into life-saving action," said Scott Silvestri, Vice President and General Manager, Badger Sports Properties (Learfield). "This fandom is on full display for the 76,000 of fans in our stadium this season. If everyone in those stands donated blood just once, they could collectively help save as many as 228,000 lives."
Inspiring a new generation of donors
In addition to addressing current shortages, the "We Give Blood" competition also aims to help fuel a new generation of donors. Today, nearly a quarter of all blood donations come from people over 65, many of whom will eventually be unable to donate. With only about 3% of those in the U.S. eligible to donate doing so, the need to recruit new donors is urgent. In the Big Ten community-population alone, its nearly 40 million people are likely eligible but may not yet be giving blood. If 1 in 15 of those people commit to donating blood into the future, that would close the gap left by an aging donor population.
'We Give Blood' at Wisconsin
In the competition's first two years, more than 100,000 total donations helped save as many as 300,000 lives. Each school's efforts helped secure a sustainable blood supply that the health system will depend on for decades to come: nearly one-third of student donors last year gave blood for the first time, and 96% said they would do it again.
Last year, Wisconsin students, fans, and alumni from across the country played a significant role in saving lives while competing for their school:
Students, fans and alumni who donates blood anywhere in the U.S. between Aug. 12 and Dec. 4 can count their donation for Wisconsin in three easy steps:
1. Donate blood at any blood drive or blood center in the U.S.
2. Take a photo or save your donation confirmation.
3. Log it at BigTen.org/Abbott or text GIVEBLOOD to 222688 (ABBOTT).
Donation totals will be tracked on a live leaderboard at BigTen.org/Abbott throughout the campaign.
People who show up to donate and log their donation made from Aug. 12 to Dec. 4 will be eligible to receive an exclusive, limited-edition Wisconsin T-shirt while supplies last* and help their school be one step closer to winning $1 million from Abbott to advance student or community health.
About the 'We Give Blood' drive
"We Give Blood" is a nationwide blood donation competition presented by Abbott and the Big Ten Conference, now in its third year. All 18 Big Ten universities compete for the most recorded donations, with the winning school receiving a $1 million grant from Abbott to advance student or community health. In its first two years, the campaign generated more than 100,000 donations collectively and helped save as many as 300,000 lives.
About University of Wisconsin
The Division of Intercollegiate Athletics at the University of Wisconsin–Madison provides student-athletes opportunities to excel, and thereby advance their athletic, academic, and social development. Through its commitment to education, broad-based opportunity, and competitive excellence across its 23 Division 1 sport programs, UW Athletics is elevating the lives of our student-athletes, each other and people in the university community. For further information, visit: https://uwbadgers.com.
For only the second time in its history, the American Red Cross has declared a national blood crisis after donations dropped to a four-year summer low, threatening the availability of lifesaving blood for patients across the country.
The competition officially kicks off Aug. 26, but to help address current shortages, Abbott and the Big Ten will honor any blood donations made starting August 12. Badgers from across the country can get involved as early as today by logging any blood donation made on or after August 12, or by scheduling a blood donation at their nearest blood drive or center. While any donation made at any blood center in the U.S. between August 12 and Dec. 4 can count towards the competition, donors in the local Madison, WI area can attend any of the following upcoming drives:
- August 31 from 11:00-5:00 at Nicholas Recreation Center
- September 1 from 11:00-5:00 at Nicholas Recreation Center
- September 2 from 11:00-5:00 at Nicholas Recreation Center
- For a full list of on-campus blood drives, visit bigten.org/abbott/Wisconsin. Donations made at any blood centers on or off campus can also count toward Wisconsin's total.
"The 'We Give Blood' drive is about turning Badger pride into life-saving action," said Scott Silvestri, Vice President and General Manager, Badger Sports Properties (Learfield). "This fandom is on full display for the 76,000 of fans in our stadium this season. If everyone in those stands donated blood just once, they could collectively help save as many as 228,000 lives."
Inspiring a new generation of donors
In addition to addressing current shortages, the "We Give Blood" competition also aims to help fuel a new generation of donors. Today, nearly a quarter of all blood donations come from people over 65, many of whom will eventually be unable to donate. With only about 3% of those in the U.S. eligible to donate doing so, the need to recruit new donors is urgent. In the Big Ten community-population alone, its nearly 40 million people are likely eligible but may not yet be giving blood. If 1 in 15 of those people commit to donating blood into the future, that would close the gap left by an aging donor population.
'We Give Blood' at Wisconsin
In the competition's first two years, more than 100,000 total donations helped save as many as 300,000 lives. Each school's efforts helped secure a sustainable blood supply that the health system will depend on for decades to come: nearly one-third of student donors last year gave blood for the first time, and 96% said they would do it again.
Last year, Wisconsin students, fans, and alumni from across the country played a significant role in saving lives while competing for their school:
- With 15,476 donations, the University of Wisconsin dominated last year's competition and won a $1M grant from Abbott to advance student or community health.
- Wisconsin's 2025 victory expanded peer wellness coaching, created an on-campus course for experiential health and leadership development, and launched Wisconsin ArtsRx – a mental health-focused concert series modeled after Carnegie Hall's Well-Being Concerts program.
- Wisconsin had the highest percentage of donations come from in-state donors out of any school in the competition (89%), with the majority of donations coming from fans (60%).
Students, fans and alumni who donates blood anywhere in the U.S. between Aug. 12 and Dec. 4 can count their donation for Wisconsin in three easy steps:
1. Donate blood at any blood drive or blood center in the U.S.
2. Take a photo or save your donation confirmation.
3. Log it at BigTen.org/Abbott or text GIVEBLOOD to 222688 (ABBOTT).
Donation totals will be tracked on a live leaderboard at BigTen.org/Abbott throughout the campaign.
People who show up to donate and log their donation made from Aug. 12 to Dec. 4 will be eligible to receive an exclusive, limited-edition Wisconsin T-shirt while supplies last* and help their school be one step closer to winning $1 million from Abbott to advance student or community health.
About the 'We Give Blood' drive
"We Give Blood" is a nationwide blood donation competition presented by Abbott and the Big Ten Conference, now in its third year. All 18 Big Ten universities compete for the most recorded donations, with the winning school receiving a $1 million grant from Abbott to advance student or community health. In its first two years, the campaign generated more than 100,000 donations collectively and helped save as many as 300,000 lives.
About University of Wisconsin
The Division of Intercollegiate Athletics at the University of Wisconsin–Madison provides student-athletes opportunities to excel, and thereby advance their athletic, academic, and social development. Through its commitment to education, broad-based opportunity, and competitive excellence across its 23 Division 1 sport programs, UW Athletics is elevating the lives of our student-athletes, each other and people in the university community. For further information, visit: https://uwbadgers.com.
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