Until Dec. 5, Nebraska alumni have a simple way they can give back to their alma mater — by donating blood in the 2025 We Give Blood challenge.
“It’s a great way for alumni to support their school — it doesn’t cost anything and takes very little time,” said Shelley Zaborowski, executive director of the Nebraska Alumni Association.
It’s a cause that Zaborowski deeply believes in.
She’s been a regular blood donor since 2004, having made 44 donations to the Nebraska Community Blood Bank and uncounted more to the American Red Cross. It adds up to more than six gallons of blood donations.
The challenge is a national campaign sponsored by Abbott and the Big Ten Conference to address critical blood shortages and encourage young adults to become donors. Even though approximately 62% of the United States population is eligible to donate, only about 3% donate.
In 2024, the campaign generated more than 20,000 Big Ten Donations, helping to save an estimated 60,000 lives. Nebraska won the 2024 campaign, collecting a $1 million prize that is being used for health-related services on campus and in the Lincoln community.
Another $1 million prize is being offered in 2025 and will go to the Big Ten member institution that generates the most donations. The winner will be announced at the Big Ten Football Championship Dec. 6 in Indianapolis.
The drive isn’t limited to campus — Husker fans and Nebraska alumni have been major contributors, with about a fourth of donations coming from alumni. Zaborowski urges more alumni to roll up their sleeves.
The campaign encourages both new donors and those, like Zaborowski, who have long made giving blood a regular part of their lives. A dozen on-campus blood drives have been scheduled for campus during the campaign, with several remaining before the drive concludes. But donors anywhere in the country can get their donations counted toward Nebraska’s total by logging them online at BigTen.org/Abbott or texting DONATE to 222688 (ABBOTT).
A student, McKinsey (Peterson) Goodenberger, '05, persuaded Zaborowski to make her first donation more than 20 years ago.
Goodenberger was a member of the Student Alumni Association and Zaborowski was serving as the group’s adviser.
With two young kids at home and a demanding career, Zaborowski wanted a way to contribute to the community without taking time away from her family. Giving blood seemed like the perfect fit, except for the part about having a needle stuck in her arm.
Goodenberger, who was also with the campus chapter of the American Red Cross, helped Zaborowski overcome her fear of needles.
“I found out it wasn’t that bad, and I’ve been a donor ever since,” Zaborowski said.
Sometimes Zaborowski participates in blood drives like those on UNL campuses to promote the We Give Blood campaign. Typically, she schedules regular appointments with the Community Blood Bank or the American Red Cross.
Blood donors can give blood as frequently as every eight weeks. The two blood banks send her reminders when it’s time to donate again. Zaborowski has O-negative blood, which is in demand as a universal blood type used for emergency transfusions when a person’s blood type is unknown.
“There are a lot of opportunities to give and it’s a very easy thing to do,” she said. “It’s not very painful. It’s just a pinch that lasts a few seconds. It’s a small price to pay to save a life.”
