Hoxworth Blood Center Celebrates National Blood Donor Month with Donor Badges, Puffy Vest, and More
Hoxworth Blood Center, University of Cincinnati, is celebrating local lifesavers during National Blood Donor Month by recognizing the heroes who are saving lives close to home. From an exclusive UC puffy vest donor thank-you item and a New Year’s Day bonus gift to brand-new digital donor badges, January is all about honoring Hoxworth Heroes and inspiring others to give the gift of life.
University of Cincinnati Bearcat Puffy Vest
When donors give the gift of life with Hoxworth in January, they will receive a University of Cincinnati Bearcat puffy vest as a thank-you gift. The vest is available at all seven neighborhood donor centers and select mobile blood drives. Donors can show their Bearcat spirit at UC events and wear it proudly knowing they are helping save lives across the Tri-State.
Start the New Year Giving the Gift of Life; Get an Amazon Bonus Reward
As community members set New Year’s resolutions and goals for 2026, Hoxworth encourages them to include saving lives in their annual habits.
All donors who give on January 1 will receive an Amazon eGift card as a special New Year’s Day bonus ($10 for whole blood donations / $20 for platelet or double red donations). It’s a meaningful way to start the year by giving to others and getting a special reward for yourself along the way.
January is National Blood Donor Month
Celebrated nationwide since 1969, National Blood Donor Month highlights the critical need for blood donations in January and the winter months. Hoxworth Blood Center serves more than 30 local hospitals and is the sole blood provider for the Greater Cincinnati region, meaning every donation stays local and directly supports local patients in need.
Blood donations help patients receiving care for chronic illness, trauma, organ transplants, cancer treatment, and more. When our community needs blood, the Tri-State consistently answers the call, but the need remains constant.
Now more than ever, blood donors are needed to support local patients. Start your #HoxworthHabit today with an annual goal of at least two donations a year and help ensure lifesaving blood is available when it’s needed most.
Brand-New Digital Donor Badges — Collect Them All
Blood donors already make a lifesaving impact—now they can celebrate it digitally. With Hoxworth Digital Donor Badges, donors can earn achievements for donations, milestones, and special events within their Donor Portal. These badges act as digital trophies, marking each step of a donor’s lifesaving journey. Starting in January, all first-time donors will receive the 2026 First Time Donor badge, and there are several more exciting badges too. Check them out at https://www.hoxworth.org/donate/badges.html.
Schedule your next donation to earn your first digital badge and keep your lifesaving streak going.
Appointments are strongly encouraged. To schedule a donation, learn more about National Blood Donor Month, or find a donor center or mobile drive near you, visit hoxworth.org or download the Hoxworth App today. Together, we can make January and all of 2026 a lifesaving year for our community.
About Hoxworth Blood Center
Hoxworth Blood Center, University of Cincinnati, was founded in 1938 and serves more than 30 hospitals in 18 counties in Southwestern Ohio, Northern Kentucky, and Southeastern Indiana. Annually, Hoxworth collects more than 100,000 units of blood from local donors to help save the lives of patients in area hospitals. Hoxworth Blood Center: Saving Lives Close to Home.
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