High School Donors

Hey students! Did you know YOU make up the biggest group of first-time blood donors in Greater Cincinnati? Seriously, we couldn’t do this without you!

More than 13% of all blood donations in our area come from high school blood drives! That’s more than 12,000 student donors each year! Since one donation can save up to three lives, that means 36,000 local patients were helped because of students like you.

Why We Need You

Hoxworth Blood Center is the only blood provider for all Great Cincinnati area hospitals. That means when you give blood with Hoxworth, your donation stays local and helps people right here in your community. We need more than 400 donors every day to meet local patient needs, and your donation could make the difference.

Donating at your school’s blood drive is easy, rewarding, and makes a real impact. You’ll get:

• time out of class to donate
• earn community service or volunteer hours
• receive an exclusive donor gift
• and may even qualify to graduate with Hoxworth Honors Red Cord.

Plus, you can track your donations and manage appointments through the Hoxworth mobile app. 

Your donation matters — and it starts with one simple decision to donate blood. Sign up for your school’s next blood drive and help save local lives today!

All 16-year-old blood donors must have a parental consent form signed in ink. Parental consent is not required for individuals 17 years of age or older.

• Download informational letter for parents
• Download Parental Consent Form

Please email donateblood@uc.edu with any questions.

Eligible individuals must be at least 17 years old (or 16 with parental consent), weigh at least 110 lbs., and feel generally well and healthy.  Females under the age of 18 can donate once in 12-month period, while males under the age of 18 can donate twice in a 12-month period.

To see if you can donate, visit our eligibility guidelines. 

New to donating blood?

Get all the information you need on our New Donor / Blood Donation 101 page. 

Eligibility requirements to donate whole blood are in place for 16 - 18 year olds. Access the height and weight chart to determine eligibility. 

Even if you can’t give blood right now, you can still make a huge impact. Join Hoxworth’s student opportunities to:

• Organize blood drives and build leadership experience
• Learn CPR and gain lifesaving skills
• Educate others about the importance of blood donation
• Serve your community and boost your resume

Students who help plan blood drives are called Student Ambassadors, and they learn skills in leadership, teamwork, and project management — all while making a real difference.