We are pleased to announce the winner of our $10,000 Lucky Giveaway: Nate T. of Arizona!
The Lucky Giveaway ran from March 1-April 5, with one winner receiving a $10,000 
prepaid gift card. Thousands of donors gave blood — and Nate gave blood twice during the giveaway time frame — ultimately securing his place as our winner.
Following the random winner selection, Nate was notified by Vitalant staff and given his redemption options. He could redeem his gift cards at a variety of online stores, including major retailers, restaurants, airlines and specialty shops, or he could receive American Express gift cards via mail.
When Nate got the call that he was the winner, he was out shopping with his wife. His first thought was, “There’s no way this is real.” His wife had the same reaction. Once it sunk in that it was indeed real, Nate felt “incredibly excited and grateful.” He also immediately knew how they’d use some of the money.
“We’re using a portion of the prize to do something meaningful for our family: a four-day deep sea fishing trip on a private charter. Fishing is something my family genuinely loves, so being able to create those memories together means a lot to us,” he said.
Nate has been giving blood with Vitalant since June 2025. His winning donation took place April 2 at a local mobile drive, and he had also donated March 19, double qualifying him for the giveaway. However, Nate’s two donations were not because of the giveaway. They were 100 percent focused on saving lives.
Nate started giving blood after his doctor informed him that his body naturally produces too many red blood cells. “Before that, I hadn’t put much thought into donating, but once I started and learned what happens to donated blood, it completely changed my perspective. I was truly amazed at how impactful a single donation can be.”
For Nate, the reality of blood donation’s impact recently hit home when his friend’s young son was hospitalized with liver complications. The doctors explained they were giving the boy blood in hopes his body could heal, as he was bleeding internally. Sadly, the boy didn’t survive, but it served as a powerful reminder of how critical blood is during emergencies.
“I often think about the fact that the roughly 30 minutes I spend donating could represent a lifetime for someone else. That perspective is what continues to motivate me to donate,” he said. “Thank you to everyone at Vitalant for the incredible work you do and for recognizing donors in such a meaningful way.”