ABC7 The Big Chicago Blood Drive with the American Red Cross will begin January 15-16.

CHICAGO (WLS) — The countdown begins! Wednesday, Nov. 20 marks 56 days until the 11th annual ABC 7 Great Chicago Blood Drive, which will take place Jan. 15 and 16, with seven blood donation locations throughout the Chicago and Northwest Indiana areas. Donations will be accepted from 7:00 am to 7:00 pm at all locations (locations listed below). Blood can be safely donated every 56 days, so the opportunity to mark January on your calendar and help save lives by donating is now. ABC 7 meteorologist Cheryl Scott and anchor/reporter Hosea Sanders, along with ABC 7 anchors Val Warner and Mark Rivera, and meteorologist Greg Dutra, will participate in the station’s live broadcast, encouraging viewers to help save lives through blood donation.

“There are few public services more important than the gift of donating blood to our fellow Chicagoans,” said John Idler, president and general manager of ABC 7 Chicago. “Working alongside the Red Cross to achieve last year’s targets is truly rewarding and we look forward to another impressive blood drive in the new year.”

“During the winter months and holiday season, blood donation rates often drop, even though only 3% of the population donates,” said Katherine Rabenstein, interim CEO of the Illinois Red Cross. “We encourage everyone to roll up their sleeves at the 11th annual ABC7 Great Chicago Blood Drive and help patients get the life-saving care they rely on every day.”

It will be 11 years old in 2025. ABC 7 Chicago and the American Red Cross will join forces for the Great Chicago Blood Drive, setting the bar for the largest Red Cross blood drive in the entire country. The response to ABC 7’s live broadcast of last year’s drive was so great that the expansion of the blood drive to seven locations over two days will continue.

Blood donation, especially during the winter months, is critical. Every two seconds, someone in the United States needs blood, but the American Red Cross estimates that only 3% of the population actually donates. All blood types are needed, and one blood donation can save more than one life.

Appointments are strongly encouraged. Register now by going to RedCrossBlood.org, sponsor code ABC7Chicago. As always, people can also call 1-800-RED CROSS to make an appointment. They can also make an appointment through the Red Cross Blood Donor App, which can be downloaded from the app store.

All donors who participate in this blood drive will receive a commemorative T-shirt, while supplies last.

All hours are from 7:00 to 19:00.

Wednesday, January 15: Day 1.

Highland Parks and Recreation Fieldhouse

2450 Lincoln Street, Highland, IN 46322

MARCH

222 W Merchandise Mart, Chicago, IL 60654

Silver Lake Country Club

14700 S. 82nd Ave., Orland Park, IL 60462

Thursday, January 16: Day 2.

Highland Parks and Recreation Fieldhouse

2450 Lincoln Street, Highland, IN 46322

Hyatt Regency Schaumburg

1800 E Golf Road, Schaumburg, IL 60173

IMani village

901 E. 95th Street, Chicago, IL 60619

Foglia YMCA

1025 N Old McHenry Rd., Lake Zurich, IL 60047

About ABC7/WLS-TV Chicago

ABC7/WLS-TV Chicago is the No. 1 local news source and most-watched television station in Chicago. With top-rated daily newscasts spanning decades and the largest social media presence in the market with more than 2.6 million Facebook followers, ABC7 Eyewitness News provides breaking news, investigative journalism, weather, politics, traffic and sports to multi-platform space in Chicago and suburbs. and northwest Indiana. Named a top newscast by the Associated Press four years in a row, ABC 7 Eyewitness News produces “Proud Chicago,” a series of programs that highlight everyday heroes in Chicago and the surrounding area. The station also airs a highly rated New Year’s special in Chicago. , a Magnificent Mile Festival of Lights holiday special designed for a national audience, and the award-winning Our Chicago programming series, which showcases the city’s diversity and highlights contributions to Black, Latinx, Asian and LGBTQ+ communities. , among other things. Every Friday, Windy City Weekend entertains Chicagoans by giving them everything they need to know about what’s happening in the city. ABC 7 is the only station in Chicago producing and broadcasting parades that represent Chicago’s rich cultural history. In addition to producing town halls focusing on current social issues, the station has a long and proud tradition of broadcasting debates of political candidates, keeping the Chicago electorate informed. largest day trips in the country and, most recently, led efforts to raise more than $1.5 million for local food pantries.

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Media contact:

Jaime Nicholas

(312) 750-7254

[email protected]