The Fourth Annual Battle of the Badges is an opportunity for all badge carrying personnel, including friends and family, to positively impact our community by competing in a friendly competition* to see who can donate the most blood and ultimately save the most lives.

We can have a substantial impact on the availability of blood for accident victims, cancer patients, premature babies and burn patients. During the 2009 Battle of the Badges campaign, 2,472 donors were recruited by the U.S. Probation Office. Our goal this year is to recruit more than 3,000 donors!

Why should you participate?

• Less than 3 percent of people in the American Red Cross Southern California Blood Services Region donates blood.
• In Southern California, the American Red Cross must distribute more than 400,000 units of blood each year to help patients in need.
• The community blood supply is everyone’s responsibility.
• You could help save lives.

How can you participate?

• Host your own drive. Agencies who host a drive must have a minimum of 40 sign-ups from their own organization, a neighboring organization, or from friends and family. Space must be available inside building or outside for blood mobile.
• Participate in a drive already scheduled.  Click here to find a Battle of the Badges drive near you.
• Donate at a Red Cross Donor Center near you. Click here to search your area.
• Join us for the kick off press conference on January 20, 2010.

* Agencies will win awards based on the number and percentage of blood drive particpants. Click here to see 2009's winners.

If you are not available to donate during your agency’s blood drive, or if your agency is not hosting a blood drive, you can still participate. Present to give blood at an American Red Cross Donor Center in Southern California between January 18 & February 20 and complete a Battle of the Badges Agency Ballot Card. Your donation will count toward the campaign and your participant gifts will be mailed to you within a few weeks.

Schedule an appointment at a Red Cross Donor Center near your, or please call 1-800-GIVE-LIFE.

All blood drive participants will receive a Battle of the Badges t-shirt, a coupon for a free appetizer from Mimi's Cafe, and a voucher for two (2) tickets* to a Los Angeles Clippers game. *$5 processing fee per ticket - $10 total fee