15th annual Big Blue Slam on UK campus Jan. 23-27
LEXINGTON, Ky. (Jan. 20, 2023) — University of Kentucky students, staff and faculty are encouraged to show up and show out for the 15th annual Big Blue Slam next week.
Kentucky Blood Center (KBC) will be at the Gatton Student Center Ballroom A Monday through Friday (Jan. 23-27) from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. The friendly competition calls on UK fans to use their enthusiasm for the Wildcats to help save local lives in Kentucky.
The five-day competition pits Big Blue Nation vs. University of Florida fans and LifeSouth Community Blood Center in Florida to restock the blood shelves in the winter months when weather and illness can hinder collections.
Donors can schedule their appointment in advance at https://kybloodcenter.org/big-blue-slam-2023-at-uk or call 800-775-2522. Appointments are preferred but walk-ins are welcome.
When students, staff, faculty and others donate on campus, they will receive the following:
- Big Blue Slam long-sleeve shirt;
- coupon for a free bread item from Papa Johns;
- $5 Starbucks gift card;
- coupon for free Cane’s lemonade;
- entry for a $500 Visa gift card; and
- entry for two lower-level tickets to the UK-Florida men’s basketball game in Rupp Arena on Feb. 4.
Kentucky leads the friendly rivalry with Florida 8-6 after winning the last two competitions. KBC is seeking the first three-year winning streak in the series.
Donations with KBC go directly toward saving local patients in Kentucky. Blood given by donors helps patients battling cancer, provides life support for traumas, aids in surgeries and so much more. KBC provides lifesaving blood to more than 70 hospitals in Kentucky, including UK Healthcare. KBC is the exclusive provider of blood to UK Healthcare.
Blood donors must be at least 17 years old (16 with parental consent), weigh at least 110 pounds, be in general good health, show a photo ID and meet additional requirements. Sixteen-year-old donors must have a signed parental permission slip, which can be found at kybloodcenter.org.
Donors can schedule an appointment at www.kybloodcenter.org or call 800.775.2522. Appointments are highly encouraged during Big Blue Slam. Walk-ins will be accepted as space allows.
About Kentucky Blood Center
Celebrating 55 years of saving lives in Kentucky, KBC is the largest independent, full-service, nonprofit blood center in Kentucky. Licensed by the FDA, KBC’s sole purpose is to collect, process and distribute blood for patients in Kentucky. KBC provides services in 90 Kentucky counties and has donor centers in Lexington, Louisville, Frankfort, Pikeville, Somerset and the Tri-County area.
As the state’s flagship, land-grant institution, the University of Kentucky exists to advance the Commonwealth. We do that by preparing the next generation of leaders — placing students at the heart of everything we do — and transforming the lives of Kentuckians through education, research and creative work, service and health care. We pride ourselves on being a catalyst for breakthroughs and a force for healing, a place where ingenuity unfolds. It's all made possible by our people — visionaries, disruptors and pioneers — who make up 200 academic programs, a $476.5 million research and development enterprise and a world-class medical center, all on one campus.
In 2022, UK was ranked by Forbes as one of the “Best Employers for New Grads” and named a “Diversity Champion” by INSIGHT into Diversity, a testament to our commitment to advance Kentucky and create a community of belonging for everyone. While our mission looks different in many ways than it did in 1865, the vision of service to our Commonwealth and the world remains the same. We are the University for Kentucky.