Texas Blood Centers Engage in Friendly Rivalry to Save Lives

In a thrilling showdown of community spirit and friendly rivalry, Gulf Coast Regional Blood Center and Carter BloodCare are going head-to-head to see which center's donors can make the biggest impact on local patients in need. It is a contest of blood, sweat, and cheers as we compete in a unique challenge to put a smile on everyone's face, which kicked off Sunday, October 15.

Carter BloodCare, based in Dallas, recently threw down the gauntlet by challenging Gulf Coast Regional Blood Center in an exciting competition. They claimed that their blood donors support their home baseball team better than our blue and orange fans support our community blood center. Here at Gulf Coast Regional Blood Center, we strongly disagree!

In the spirit of good-natured competition, the two centers settled this dispute. The challenge is simple: Whichever blood center collects the most blood during the Houston/Dallas series will be crowned the winner. All products count, from whole blood to platelets and beyond, and each donation is a point for your team.

But here is where it gets fun and exciting: The losing center, the one that falls short in this friendly competition, will have to wear the opposing team's gear. That means if Carter BloodCare loses, they will be sporting orange and blue shirts, and if Gulf Coast Regional Blood Center falls short, we will be dressed in Dallas gear. Both teams will proudly post their photos on social media for everyone to see.

Let us unite as a community and show that the heart of Texas beats strong on the Gulf Coast. The competition started Sunday, October 15, but will run the length of the Houston/Dallas series. Join the competition and donate in your favorite team gear to show your support. Share your spirit and tag us @commitforlife while donating blood to let the world know you are on #TeamHouston. It is all about helping our fellow Texans and having some good-natured fun in the process.

Whether you are a lifelong Houston or Dallas fan or simply a proud Texan, your blood donation can impact patients in need. Join the competition, donate today, and let’s win this for the Gulf Coast Area. Let the games begin! 

Gulf Coast Regional Blood Center is a nonprofit organization accredited by the Food and Drug Administration and the sole provider of blood and blood components 24/7 to more than 170 hospitals and health care facilities in a 26-county Texas Gulf Coast region. 

Carter BloodCare is an independent, community blood center providing transfusion resources to more than 200 medical facilities in 50-plus counties of North, Central and East Texas. The nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization is one of the largest blood programs in Texas, delivering more than 440,000 blood products annually to meet hospitals’ requirements for their patients. Services include collection, processing, specialized laboratory testing, storage and distribution of blood and blood products.