Baltimore Orioles, MedStar Health and the American Red Cross Team Up for Sickle Cell Awareness Month Blood Drive

What: Sickle Cell Awareness Month blood drive with the Baltimore Orioles, Red Cross and MedStar Health

When: Sept. 16, 2025, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. (media window from 11 a.m. to noon)

Where: The Warehouse at Camden Yards, 6th floor
             333 West Camden Street, Baltimore, MD 21201

Roughly every two and a half minutes, someone with sickle cell disease arrives at a U.S. emergency room – and nearly 2 out of 3 times, they’re in severe pain. In those critical moments, the availability of lifesaving blood can mean the difference between uncertainty and assurance when transfusion treatment is needed.

September is Sickle Cell Awareness Month, and the Baltimore Orioles have teamed up with MedStar Health, the Orioles trusted medical provider, and the American Red Cross for a blood drive to help ensure blood products are available for patients in need.

The blood drive will take place at the Warehouse at Camden Yards, 6th floor, on Tuesday Sept. 16, from 10 a.m. – 3 p.m. (333 West Camden Street, Baltimore, MD 21201).  Media are invited to attend from 11 a.m. to noon. The Oriole Bird will also be there to cheer on our blood donors.

“We see firsthand the devastating impact of sickle cell disease every day in our hospitals and clinics,” said Bradley S. Chambers, senior vice president, and chief operating officer for the Baltimore region, MedStar Health. “The decision to donate blood is a decision to give sickle cell patients and those battling many other health challenges a piece of their life back. Please join us, the Baltimore Orioles, and the American Red Cross in this critical mission to improve the health of our communities.”

“The stories of people living with sickle cell disease stay with you — they’re powerful, and often heartbreaking,” said Orioles Executive Vice President of Public Affairs Kerry R. Watson, Jr. “This blood drive is about raising awareness and saving lives in our city and region. While we encourage everyone to donate, it is especially critical for people of African descent to give blood, because transfusions from closely matched donors are one of the most effective treatments for patients living with this disease.”

To make an appointment to donate, please go to RedCrossBlood.org and enter code ORIOLESSCAWARENESS in the zip code box.

The Orioles will also share information about Sickle Cell Disease and the critical part that blood donations play in treatment of the disease on the jumbotron at Thursday’s game (Sept. 18) against the New York Yankees – which is HBCU and Divine Nine night at the ballpark.

#TeamUp4SickleCell

Roughly 100,000 people in the U.S., most of whom are of African descent, are living with sickle cell disease – the most common inherited blood disorder in the country. Regular blood transfusions are critical to the manage extreme pain and life-threatening complications that come with Sickle Cell, and those who live with the disease can need up to 100 transfusions in a single year.

For patients with Sickle Cell disease, blood donors who are Black are almost 3 times more likely to be a match for the blood most commonly needed for transfusions.

Whether blood is needed for a chronic condition, such as sickle cell disease, a surgical procedure or a large-scale emergency, it’s the blood already on the shelves that helps save lives, and a diverse base of blood donors is needed to help the diverse patients who depend on it.

Blood donor eligibility

To donate blood, a Red Cross blood donor card, driver’s license or two other forms of identification are required at check-in. Individuals who are 17 years of age in most states (16 with parental consent where allowed by state law), weigh at least 110 pounds and are in generally good health may be eligible to donate blood. High school students and other donors 18 years of age and younger also have to meet certain height and weight requirements.

A little care goes a long way

All who come to give by Sept. 21 will receive an exclusive Red Cross x PEANUTS mystery bag with one of four special T-shirt designs, while supplies last. Thousands of golden tickets are also randomly hidden in mystery bags throughout the country. Donors who find a golden ticket when they open their bag can redeem it through an online form for all four T-shirts.

Additionally, all who come to give Sept. 22-Oct. 19, 2025, will receive a $10 Amazon.com Gift Card by email. Visit RedCrossBlood.org/Fall for details.