Who said blood bankers’ talents are restricted to the blood center? Since we first introduced “ABC’s Got Talent,” the online virtual talent show fundraiser benefitting the Foundation for America’s Blood Centers (FABC), we have learned that our members have a multitude of rare and exciting talents. I do not want to give away any spoilers, but let me just say, blood bankers sure do keep things interesting.
Yet, something tells me we’ve only scratched the surface of the talents that lie within our members’ employees, boards, and families. We still have time to find out more! It’s not too late to let your talent shine – we are accepting video submissions through Dec. 31. Anyone who is a blood center employee, volunteer, board member, or family member of an employee can enter.
Similar to modern day talent/reality shows, our contestants will have the opportunity to share their video with friends, families, and colleagues to earn the most votes. The difference between us and American Idol? The votes our contestants earn will be in the form of donations to the FABC, which will help fund and support member-focused initiatives, mostly the development and implementation of the America’s Blood Centers Professional Institute (API) (see page 6 for more on the API).
All contestants need to do is make a video, no longer than five minutes in length, of themselves performing their talent. Contestants need to state their name, blood center affiliation, and the talent they will be performing at the beginning of each video. Then, contact me at jzand@americasblood.org for instructions on how to upload the video to our YouTube channel for ABC’s Got Talent. Once the video is up, we will send a fundraising link that contestants can use to obtain votes and try to earn a spot in the top five to perform live at the ABC Annual Meeting in March in Washington, DC by raising the most donations through votes to compete for the grand prize!
I cannot promise Ryan Seacrest or celebrities pushing big voting buttons to spin around in their rotating chairs, but I can promise you a fun time, a lot of talent, and the chance to support a great cause! So take a five-minute break from saving lives, make your video, and let’s get voting!
Jodi Zand, Manager, Fundraising & Events; jzand@americasblood.org