Each academic college and department will compete against one other this summer in Penn State’s second annual American Red Cross Blood Donor Challenge, which will begin next week.

The challenge will run from June 4 until July 31 and include more than 20 separate blood drives. Each blood drive will be sponsored by different colleges and offices within Penn State as well as Irving’s, which will donate bagels for all participants. Colleges and departments are encouraged to recruit the most donors.

The first opportunity to donate blood will take place June 4 in the Mann Assembly Room in Paterno Library from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and will be sponsored by University Libraries. A full schedule of blood drives can be found below.

Donations of all blood type are welcomed, but the Red Cross has less than a two-day supply of type O blood and is in particular need of it.

Last year’s inaugural competition collected 682 units of blood and saved as many as 1,884 lives.

Those interested in donating can call 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767), visit RedCrossBlood.org and enter: PSU, or download the Red Cross Blood Donor app to schedule an appointment. If you would like to get your department involved, you can email [email protected].