Vitalant blood donors who give between now and Thursday, Nov. 30 at any donor center or blood drive across the Valley will receive a voucher for one ticket to a Phoenix Symphony performance.

Being the longest extended holiday weekend of the year, the Thanksgiving holiday is one of the most difficult times to ensure Arizona patients have an ample supply of lifesaving blood transfusions, according to Vitalant. To make a donation appointment, call 877-25-VITAL (877-258-4825) or visit vitalant.org and enter your city or zip code.

The Phoenix Symphony’s partnership with Vitalant was inspired when their late maestro, Hermann Michael, was diagnosed with aplastic anemia, a disease that affected his body’s ability to produce blood cells. Doctors treated him with chemotherapy and blood transfusions every few days. Maestro Michael was grateful that blood was there for him when he needed it and shared his story with the public to inspire increased donations.

The disease strikes only one person in 3 million, according to a Vitalant press release. The maestro would succumb to his blood disease six years later, and The Phoenix Symphony’s annual tradition of saving lives around the Thanksgiving holiday continues.

Since the Thanksgiving partnership was established with the Symphony in 2002, the annual campaign has grown to inspire approximately 79,000 people to donate blood.

“As we celebrate our health and well-being with family, it is important to remember that patients are relying on a plentiful blood supply so that they can celebrate another holiday with their families as well,” Sid Lewis, Vitalant’s Southwest Division vice president, stated.

The Vitalant donor center in Phoenix is located at 5757 N. Black Canyon Hwy.