We are over the moon to announce the four winners of the Celestial Giveaway, our promotion that ran March 3-31, giving all donors who came to donate during this time frame a chance to win one of four $5,000 gift cards.
Each winner received their gift card just in time for the event of the year: the total Solar Eclipse on April 8. In addition to this giveaway, donors who gave blood from March 3-16 scored a special Eclipse T-shirt and viewing glasses. The excitement for this once-in-a-lifetime phenomenon was palpable across Vitalant.
Now, let’s meet our lucky winners! A total of 90,257 eligible donors qualified for the promotion, but only four could win in our random drawing. The stars aligned just perfectly for our winners, who hail from all over the country.
The first winner is Kimberly of Pennsylvania, who has 15 lifetime donations. Her winning donation on March 10 also happened to be her first ever platelet donation. Kim was aware of the promotion when she donated, but she never expected to win.
“It was a mix of excitement, disbelief, and gratitude all rolled into one unforgettable moment,” shares Kim.
Kim works in healthcare and understands the importance of every donation. She says giving blood is her way of directly assisting individuals undergoing medical treatments or facing emergencies.
“Being a blood donor is not just a personal choice, but a responsibility I embrace wholeheartedly,” says Kim. “It is a way to make a positive impact and support those facing health challenges.”
Matthew from New Mexico is our second winner. Matt has four lifetime donations, and his winning donation took place on March 15. He was not aware of the promotion when he donated, so imagine his surprise when he learned he was a winner!
Our third winner is Nicole from Idaho. She is a relatively new donor with Vitalant. Nicole’s first donation was this January. Her winning donation took place March 12. We look forward to having Nicole as a regular donor.
Krystal, who resides in Arizona, is our fourth winner — and her story completely warmed our hearts. With three lifetime donations, Krystal has hosted blood drives in honor of her son, who died from leukemia, since 2019. In fact, it was the March 20 blood drive in honor of her son Jacob that qualified Krystal for the promotion. 
“Jacob was 17 years old when he was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia, just seven days prior to his 18th birthday,” shares Krystal. “When Jacob was asked while still receiving chemotherapy what he would like for his 18th birthday, he thought about it for a moment and then requested a blood drive.”
Krystal said Jacob recognized how many blood products he was requiring and wanted to give back somehow. His idea of a blood drive was born that moment.
Jacob passed away at age 19 in May of 2020, just 15 months after his diagnosis — but his blood drive keeps his memory alive.
“Every year for his birthday, this is our celebration of his selfless nature — it is a true example of the kind of young man Jacob was in his short life. While Jacob's life was cut short, his legacy still lives on in those who knew him, and even those who didn't get to meet this wonderfully amazing human being,” says Krystal.
Krystal’s husband also donates Power Red at the drives, and together, they encourage others to consider giving blood.
“I would tell anyone that has never donated but is able that it’s such a painless way to give back to the community, especially those who require blood transfusions regularly,” she says. “Find a local blood donation drive and pull those sleeves up; one donation can help up to three people.”
The Solar Eclipse and our Celestial Giveaway were both experiences of a lifetime. We are honored to celebrate the donors who made the promotion possible and who gave patients hope for brighter tomorrows.