Calvin Trails Hope in Blood Battle Drive
Calvin University collected 19 pints of blood in a competition with Hope College held ahead of their rivalry football game.
Updated on Nov. 9, 2026 in Philanthropy
Live Poll
Have you given blood in the past year?
The Service Learning Center hosted its annual Blood Battle on Tuesday, Nov. 3, in partnership with Versiti Blood Center of Michigan. Calvin collected 19 pints while Hope College collected 30 pints, and the blood from both schools can help save up to 147 lives.
Why it matters
The event was framed as a competition to encourage students, faculty, and staff to donate blood. Blood donation needs in West Michigan hospitals remain constant, with roughly one in seven hospital patients needing blood products.
Calvin collected 19 pints and Hope College collected 30 pints during the Blood Battle, with the combined donations able to help save up to 147 lives. Only about 5% of the roughly 38% of the population eligible to donate actually does so, and the source does not say how many prospective donors were turned away.
The players
Versiti Blood Center of Michigan
Versiti is a nonprofit blood services organization that provides blood collection and donation services across the United States, including Michigan.
The details
Versiti provided sponsorship, incentives, and donation services, including Krispy Kreme donut coupons and free t-shirts for donors. Promotion included a station near Peet's Coffee, posters across campus, and posts on the Service Learning Center's social media pages.
Timeline
Tuesday, Nov. 3, 2026: Calvin and Hope Blood Battle held at the Service Learning Center.
Saturday, Nov. 7, 2026: Rivalry football game between Calvin and Hope.
Spring semester 2027: Next Calvin blood donation event planned for students who want to donate.
Market Landscape
The Blood Battle applies a rivalry-based competition model to blood donation, a format Calvin has used to win the event in each of the past two years. The 2026 result, with Hope College outdonating Calvin 30 pints to 19, tests whether that competitive framing can keep producing turnout gains against a rival school.
Students, faculty, and staff who give blood at Calvin's spring 2027 event can help supply West Michigan hospitals, where about one in seven patients needs blood products. Donation is open to the roughly 38% of the population who are eligible.
The takeaway
Community blood donation depends on sustained participation, since less than 5% of eligible people donate. Competitive campus drives like the Blood Battle offer one practical way to raise that rate.
What happens next
Students who want to donate can participate in Calvin's next blood donation event in the spring semester of 2027.
Further reading
For more on local giving efforts, see Philanthropy coverage across West Michigan.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Calvin University Chimes.
Live Poll
Have you given blood in the past year?
