MKBC News & Community Impact

On Thursday, April 9, Miller-Keystone Blood Center (MKBC) announced the winner of its 2026 Blood Donor Madness competition during a Winners Announcement and Wrap-up Celebration held at Coca-Cola Park. The event took place in the BSI Corporate Benefits Dugout Suite, with the official champion announced on the field prior to the start of the Lehigh Valley IronPigs game.

Lehigh University was named the 2026 Blood Donor Madness champion. The annual campaign is designed to boost blood donations across the region through a fun and friendly competition among local colleges and universities. As this year’s winner, Lehigh University will receive a $10,000 gift to its scholarship program, generously provided by BSI Corporate Benefits, along with the official MKBC Blood Donor Madness trophy.

“Thirteen regional colleges and universities participated in our 2026 Blood Donor Madness competition,” said Rami Nemeh, President & CEO of Hospital Central Services, Inc./Miller-Keystone Blood Center. “Thanks to their combined efforts, more than 550 blood donors were brought in, impacting approximately 1,500 lives in our community. We are grateful to all participating schools and congratulate Lehigh University on being crowned this year’s champion.”

The 12-week competition launched on January 12 and concluded on April 3, with participating schools competing to collect the highest number of blood donations. The total number of blood donations for each institution was weighted, with each school given a goal of 2% of its total student population.

Participating schools in the 2026 competition included:

• Cedar Crest College *
• DeSales University *
• Geisinger Commonwealth School of Medicine *
• Kutztown University
• Lackawanna College
• Lafayette College *
• Lehigh Carbon Community College *
• Lehigh University – 2026 winner
• Moravian University *
• Northampton Community College
• Penn State Berks
• Penn State Lehigh Valley *
• Reading Hospital School of Health Sciences *

* Schools achieving or exceeding their 2026 goal and receiving a $1,000 gift to their scholarship fund

The 2026 Blood Donor Madness competition was generously sponsored by BSI Corporate Benefits and Capital BlueCross. 

Blood Donor Madness Details: https://www.giveapint.org/donormadness/

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WFMZ Channel 69 News:
Competing to save lives: Lehigh University wins 2026 Blood Donor Madness competition

Officials at Miller-Keystone Blood Center (MKBC) have announced the recipients of its annual Local Leader Awards. Established in 2014, the awards recognize blood drive hosts who collect 200 or more lifesaving blood donations within a calendar year. By hosting blood drives with MKBC, these organizations strengthen the health and well-being of our families, friends, neighbors, and the community.

“Our Local Leaders are game changers,” said Monika Wiegers, MKBC Director of Donor Relations. “When it comes to blood collections, these organizations don’t just support our mission, they champion it.”

“Hosting a blood drive is more than just an event, it’s a way to bring people together for a greater purpose,” she added, noting that the impact is real and meaningful by providing hope to someone in need of blood as medicine.

In 2025, 20 organizations reached the Local Leader milestone and were honored during the MKBC Impact Awards ceremony held at DeSales University of March 3, 2026.  Recipients include:

• East Penn Manufacturing – 770 units
• Pediatric Cancer Foundation of the Lehigh Valley – 401 units
• Joseph the Worker Roman Catholic Parish – 340 units
• Reading Hospital – Tower Health – 338 units
• Kempton Excavating / Kempton Community – 334 units
• Daniel Boone High School – Angela Hohl Memorial – 325 units
• Luke’s Hospital – Bethlehem Campus – 290 units
• Lehigh Valley Health Network – Cedar Crest – 265 units
• Boyertown Community – 253 units
• Air Products – World Headquarters – 239 units
• In Memory of Allison Perno – 239 units
• Geisinger Medical Center – 239 units
• Lehighton Community Blood Drive – 232 units
• Fleetwood High School – 229 units
• Indian Valley Community Blood Drive – 224 units
• ArtsQuest / Levitt Pavilion / Craig Thatcher Band – 221 units
• Thomas More Church – 218 units
• EnerSys – 214 units
• Peter’s United Church Of Christ – 213 units
• Luke’s Hospital – Monroe Campus – 201 units

Officials at Miller-Keystone Blood Center recently announced the recipients of its MKBC Impact Awards. The awards were presented during an event held on Tuesday, March 3, at DeSales University.

“Our Impact Awards were created as a way to say thank you and celebrate the incredible difference our blood donors, blood drive hosts, blood drive coordinators, funders, volunteers, and ambassadors make – not only for our organization, but for our entire community,” said Rami Nemeh, President & CEO of Miller-Keystone Blood Center.

This year’s Impact Award recipients include:

• George Ashman Award for Blood Drive Coordinator of the Year: Kevin Unger, St. Peter’s UCC (West Lawn, PA)
• Blood Drive of the Year – Business: Aman’s Artisan Indian Cuisine (Easton, PA)
• Blood Drive of the Year – Community: Kempton Excavating / Kempton Community Blood Drive (Kempton, PA)
• Angela Hohl Award for High School Blood Drive of the Year: Bethlehem Area Vocational Technical School (Bethlehem, PA)
• MKBC Volunteer of the Year: Shayne Murray (Easton, PA)
• MKBC Ambassador of the Year: Sofia Groves (Allentown, PA)

Additional Details: https://www.giveapint.org/impact-awards/
PHOTO CREDIT:  Marco Calderon