DURANT, OK – The Annual Tribal Blood Drive Challenge wrapped up with a large number of donations given through drives held by four tribes across Oklahoma. Choctaw Nation had the most participation ever, resulting in a winning amount of donations during the event. The Chickasaws join the Choctaw Nation in first place with both tribes achieving 103 percent over their expected participation. The challenge is the second of what has become an annual event. Overall, Oklahoma Blood Institute (OBI) received enough blood to save 8,622 lives.
Choctaw Nation has hosted several blood drives throughout the reservation from August 2022 to January 2023 offering tribal members, associates and others the opportunity to give blood. These drives resulted in more than 1,500 volunteers donating blood.
“I thank you all from the bottom of my heart,” said Gary Batton, Chief of the Choctaw Nation. “Even though the next Tribal Blood Drive Challenge doesn’t start until August, you can continue to give blood by visiting either the Choctaw Nation events page or OBI’s website.”
The Oklahoma Blood Institute is a part of Our Blood Institute, the sixth largest independent blood center in the nation with 16 donor centers in Oklahoma, Arkansas and Texas.
“Partnering with the tribal nations made sense to us as we work to increase blood supplies through the state of Oklahoma,” said Michelle McGuire of OBI. “We are grateful for their help in this monumental effort to save lives.”
