Powell, OH — Be the "pulse" of summer and donate blood! The Columbus Zoo and Aquarium is partnering with Versiti Blood Center of Ohio to raise awareness about the need for lifesaving blood donations. As an official Zoo partner, Versiti will support the Pulse of Summer Blood Drive on Wednesday, June 15, 2023.
The blood drive will take place at the Zoo’s Africa Event Center located off the main parking lot, and appointments are available to book online now from 9 a.m. until 5 p.m. Donors will be able to view the Zoo’s Heart of Africa savanna habitat while donating, and purchase of a Zoo ticket is not required. As a thank you for their important contributions, all blood donors will receive a BOGO Zoombezi Bay ticket and will be entered in Versiti’s Ride to Save Sweepstakes, where they could win a motorcycle.
Anyone 17 years or older who is in general good health and meets eligibility requirements is encouraged to donate blood. (In fact, donors can also donate blood every 56 days!) Parental consent is required for 16-year-olds to donate. Appointments are preferred to ensure a quick and convenient donation, but walk-in donors are also welcome. The entire process takes about an hour. Donors should bring a photo ID that includes their birth date. Donors are also encouraged to eat a healthy meal and drink plenty of water before donating.
Blood is precious and perishable, and the need for blood donors is vital. Every 2 seconds, someone in the United States is in need of blood. By donating blood, you are helping to save up to three lives!
Versiti is also a supporting partner of ZOMBIEzi Bay for the 2021-2024 season. For additional updates about the Columbus Zoo, the animals, events, and more, be sure to follow the Zoo’s social media accounts on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and TikTok, and visit us at ColumbusZoo.org.
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About the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium
Home to more than 10,000 animals representing over 600 species worldwide, the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium leads by making a positive impact on people, wildlife, and wild places. The Zoo complex is a recreational and education destination that includes the 22-acre Zoombezi Bay water park and 18-hole Safari Golf Club. The Columbus Zoo and Aquarium also manages The Wilds, a 10,000-acre conservation center and safari park located in southeastern Ohio. The Zoo is a wildlife conservation organization with regional, national and global impact, annually supporting conservation and research projects locally and worldwide to continue the mission of Empowering People. Saving Wildlife. A 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, the Columbus Zoo has earned Charity Navigator’s prestigious 4-star rating.
