Laugh, Give Blood, Get a Cool T-Shirt with Laughfest and Michigan Blood

Michigan Blood has teamed up with Gilda’s Club of Grand Rapids and Gilda's LaughFest to make your blood donation twice as valuable.

Kristen Knauss from Michigan Blood and Erik Wolenberg from Gilda’s Club joined me today to talk about this unique partnership and how you can take part and to talk about the blood drive taking place today at Michigan Blood at 1036 Fuller Avenue NE in Grand Rapids.

For the third straight year, Gilda’s Club Grand Rapids and LaughFest are partnering with Michigan Blood and Blue Care Network to host blood drives during Gilda’s LaughFest.

The remaining blood drives are March 2 (today), 3 (Tuesday), 4 (Wednesday) and 9.

“We are thankful for this partnership with Michigan Blood and Blue Care Network,” said Erik Wolenberg, marketing and public relations manager for Gilda’s Club Grand Rapids and Gilda’s LaughFest. “Many people on a cancer journey, including Gilda’s Club members, rely on blood product transfusions. Whether someone is inspired to donate blood in honor of a loved one or just to give back, it can make a real difference in the health of those in need. And donations at these drives not only saves lives, they also help support the free programs at Gilda’s Club for children living with cancer or grief, and for in-school emotional health programs.”

For every person that donates blood, Blue Care Network (BCN) will donate $10 towards LaughFest’s High Five campaign, which aims to raise $50,000 in community support to benefit GCGR’s children’s cancer, grief, and in-school emotional health programs. Each $10 donation made by BCN will be matched dollar-for-dollar by Amway, the matching partner of the High Five campaign. That means that each donor will equal another $20 in donations to Gilda's Club! Individuals interested in donating directly to the High Five campaign may do so by purchasing a button at a participating restaurant or business in West Michigan, at LaughFest Central or LaughFest shows, or by donating on Laughfest's website.

Donors will also receive a limited edition t-shirt and be entered to win LaughFest tickets (including a pair of tickets to the nearly sold out Billy Gardell show) and merchandise. Please visit one of the following locations for your chance to save a life, support Gilda’s Club and share some laughter.

Monday (March 2), 9 a.m. to 7 p.m., Michigan Blood, 1036 Fuller Avenue NE, Grand Rapids
Tuesday (March 3), 7:30 a.m. to 1 p.m., Blue Care Network, 611 Cascade West Parkway SE, Ada
Wednesday (March 4), noon to 7 p.m., King Memorial Youth Center, 225 S. Hudson St., Lowell
Monday, March 9, noon to 7 p.m., King Memorial Youth Center, 225 S. Hudson St., Lowell

Blood supplies are low this time of year due to the weather, and Michigan Blood needs your donation. So call or go to their site and make your appointment today.