Life-saving Donations
Wolverines for Life

Wolverines for Life is a collaborative effort between the University of Michigan community, the American Red Cross, Be the Match, Gift of Life Michigan, Eversight, and Team Michigan. We are students, athletes, alumni, staff, faculty and campus and hospital leadership and we are allied with a common purpose: dedication to saving lives through donations.

 Woman supporting a teenager in need

Our Goals

  • Implement a University-wide zero tolerance policy for:
    • Organ wait list deaths
    • Deaths due to lack of blood products
    • Deaths due to lack of bone marrow matches
  • Educate each member of the U-M community about the need for donors

Become a Wolverine for Life today by learning more about how you can become a life-saving donor.
Donate Blood

The University of Michigan hosts a number of blood drives throughout the area to help those in need. Check the calendar for the latest drive in your neighborhood.

Volunteer

Volunteer to help at donor drives, connect with others on campus, and more.

Share Your Story

Share your story on how a life-saving donation impacted you or your family member.

Donate to save lives

Donate blood or register to become an organ or bone marrow donor to help save lives.

  • Donate Blood
  • Join the Michigan Organ Donor Registry (Michigan Residents & Students)
  • Join the Bone Marrow Donor Registry
  • Join the National Organ Donor Registry (Non-Michigan Residents)

    • Every football Saturday, the population of Ann Arbor, Michigan doubles as more than 115,000 people fill the hallowed "Big House" to watch their football heroes. That's about the same number of people waiting for a life-saving organ transplant in the United States. Every day, some die waiting. You can be a hero off the football field: sign up as an organ donor, give blood or join the registry for bone marrow donation.
    Wolverines for Life
    Upcoming Events View all Wolverines for Life events
    Donate Blood at Michigan Medicine

    Now open to the public. Appointments highly recommended.
    Donate Blood at Michigan Medicine

    Now open to the public. Appointments highly recommended.
    Donate Blood at Michigan Medicine

    Now open to the public. Appointments highly recommended.
    Blood Drive at the University of Michigan (North Campus)

    Now open to the public. Appointments highly recommended.
    Donate Blood at the University of Michigan (North Campus)

    Now open to the public. Appointments highly recommended.
    Donate Blood at Michigan Medicine

    Now open to the public. Appointments highly recommended.
    Donate Blood at Michigan Medicine

    Now open to the public. Appointments highly recommended.
    Donate Blood at Michigan Medicine

    Now open to the public. Appointments highly recommended.
    Donate Blood at Michigan Medicine

    Now open to the public. Appointments highly recommended.
    MOTTEP Life Walk

    Don’t forget to register for the largest event promoting organ and tissue donation in Michigan: the MOTTEP Life Walk. We’ll be returning to Belle Isle on Saturday, July 22, 2023. Join the Wolverines for Life team to receive a FREE team t-shirt at the event!

    The event will feature a 5K walk as well as a 5K and 10K run, health fair, kids’ corner, awards ceremony, and more. 

    REGISTER HERE

    We have 15 FREE registration codes! After registering, please email Megan Podschlne at [email protected] with your t-shirt size.

    Saturday, July 22, 2022
    Belle Isle Park, Casino Area
    Registration opens at 7:00 am
    Run begins at 8:00 am
    Walk begins at 8:30 am
    Registration Fees: Walker $30; Runner $35 (Children 12 and under are free)

    Interested in volunteering at this event? Sign up to help staff our table! 

    Life Walk Participants pose for a photo
    Wolverines for Life News & Stories See all Wolverines for Life news & stories Tucker smiles on the Michigan football field with his wife
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    Tucker's Story
    If my Michigan journey didn't start immediately at birth in 1993, then it started at 6 months old when I was diagnosed with hepatoblastoma and was starting chemotherapy treatment at Mott Children's Hospital. Eight months later, I received the gift of life in the form of a new liver.
         Emma and her dad pose for a photo outside
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    Emma's Story
    In many ways, the courses of our lives are determined by strangers: people on admissions committees, policymakers, public figures, and, more recently, influencers. Yet, at the same time, the world is quite small.
         Danny poses for a photo with his family and dog
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    Danny's Story
    In 1984, at the age of 3 1/2, Danny was diagnosed with Acute Lymphocytic Leukemia, was treated with chemotherapy and went into remission. The chemo caused a cardiomyopathy which was discovered at age 14. At that point, Danny was put on medications and his heart was stable until major back surgery.
         Rachel smiles for a photo from her hospital bed
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    Rachel's Story
    With very little warning, Rachel went from being a healthy and active woman to needing a heart transplant. Michigan Medicine helped Rachel through her transplant and regaining her strength.
         Connor smiles for a photo outside
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    Connor's Story
    When Connor Burke was diagnosed with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia, his treatment caused his red blood cell count to go down and he needed blood transfusions. Blood donations saved his life.
         Travis smiles for a photo outside
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    Travis' Story
    Travis passed away on April 2, 2016 due to a car accident during a storm. During his life, he saved lives through countless blood donations. After his death, he saved dozens of lives through tissue and organ donations.