BLOODWORKS NORTHWEST’S MUSIC’S IN OUR BLOOD CAMPAIGN RETURNS WITH A CALL TO “PLAY IT AGAIN!” AND REACH 20,000 NEW AND RETURNING BLOOD DONORS

The sixth annual campaign unites lifesaving blood donation with the power of local music, investing directly in artists and helping young people access their first musical opportunities

SEATTLE (October 13, 2026) – Bloodworks Northwest today announced the launch of the sixth annual “Music’s In Our Blood” campaign, a four-month effort uniting lifesaving blood donation with the power of local music. Running October through January, this year’s campaign — whose theme is “Play It Again!” — aims to inspire 20,000 new and returning blood donors while celebrating the artists, organizations and community members who help keep the region’s blood supply strong.

The “Play It Again!” theme is a nod to the organization’s “One More Time” initiative, which encourages people to make just one more blood donation each year — which can make a meaningful difference for patients across the Pacific Northwest and help prevent future blood shortages.

“This year, we’re asking our community to ‘Play It Again!’ by making one more donation, inviting someone new to donate or finding another way to support the people who depend on our region’s blood supply,” said Bloodworks Northwest President and CEO Curt Bailey. “Our goal is to inspire 20,000 new and returning donors, and we’re grateful to the artists and community partners helping us make that possible.”

Ambassadors

Through a partnership with Sonic Guild, six Pacific Northwest musicians will serve as “Music’s In Our Blood” ambassadors, community collaborators and creative leaders. Selected through an open application process, the artists will each receive a grant to support their music while using their platforms and performances to encourage blood donation. The 2026 campaign ambassadors are Dark Chisme, Meldrop, Babes in Canyon, Black Ends, Family Worship Center and Rachel Wong.

“Artists have an incredible ability to bring people together, start conversations and inspire action, which makes ‘Music’s In Our Blood’ such a meaningful partnership for us,” said Ben London, CEO of Sonic Guild. “We’re proud to support six Pacific Northwest artists as they use their music and platforms to encourage their communities to give blood.”

Each ambassador will share campaign content throughout the four-month effort, record a personal testimonial about the importance of blood donation, participate in a KEXP on-air spotlight and host a “Music’s In Our Blood” activation at a designated performance. They will also participate in media opportunities and community storytelling during the campaign.

KEXP will once again bring the campaign to its audience through seven blood drives and its annual Yule Benefit Tour. The tour will bring together Bloodworks Northwest and Stanford Blood Center for concerts in Seattle, Portland and Berkeley, featuring artists Kamasi Washington and Bartees Strange.

Partnerships

Longtime campaign partner Top Pot Doughnuts is expanding its support of Music’s In Our Blood with a season of giving that brings together blood donation, music and holiday generosity. In addition to hosting five blood drives at its Edmonds, Issaquah and Tacoma locations, Top Pot will partner with Free Guitars 4 Kids (www.fg4k.org) and the Forgotten Children’s Fund (www.forgottenchildrensfund.org) to provide 15 guitars to children in need. The partnership will also feature holiday toy drives, visits with Santa and live performances by young musicians from The Residency at select Top Pot cafés. The celebration continues into January’s National Blood Donor Month with a special Blood Orange Old Fashioned doughnut available at all Top Pot locations, reinforcing the campaign’s message that giving blood saves lives.

Free Guitars 4 Kids returns as a cornerstone of this year’s Music’s In Our Blood campaign, partnering with Bloodworks Northwest and several campaign collaborators to put guitars into the hands of aspiring young musicians. Through school performances, community events and blood drives with partners including The Residency, Top Pot Doughnuts and others, the campaign will celebrate the power of music to inspire generosity, connect communities and save lives.

New this year, WaFd Bank joins Music’s In Our Blood as a major campaign partner, leveraging its network of 200 branches across the region to raise awareness about the importance of blood donation and encourage community participation. Building on WaFd’s partnership with the Seattle Kraken, the campaign will culminate in a special “Free Guitars. Free Skate. Save Lives.” celebration at Kraken Community Iceplex in Q1 2027. The event will invite up to 300 blood donors and their families to enjoy complimentary ice skating, music and festivities, celebrating those who give blood and help save lives.

Other Campaign Highlights

The Residency, a Seattle-based nonprofit empowering young artists through music and mentorship, will bring its creative energy to Music’s In Our Blood through performances, special events and community engagement. Highlights include its annual Gala and Auction at Block 41 on Oct. 15, featuring a live painting collaboration between artists Henry and Macklemore, and The Residency Showcase and Concert at the Neptune Theatre on Nov. 12. Through its Where the Heart Lives school performances, The Residency will also help inspire the next generation of musicians, with participating schools receiving up to three guitars for their music programs and a $500 grant from Bloodworks. A “Where My Heart Lives” social media campaign will further amplify the connection between music, community and saving lives.

In Portland, acclaimed artist Mike Bennett and Wonderwood Springs are bringing creativity and community together through “The Band That’s in Our Blood.” The partnership kicks off with a Halloween Fair and blood drive at Wonderwood Springs on October 31, followed by seven life-size musical instruments created by Bennett appearing at locations throughout the Portland area. Each instrument represents a guitar that, in partnership with Free Guitars 4 Kids and JoyRx, will be gifted to a child at a local children’s hospital. The interactive experience will invite the community to discover the instruments, celebrate the power of music, and help save lives through blood donation.

The campaign isn’t complete without the engagement of artist Marshall Hugh of Marshall Law Band who will continue creating monthly videos highlighting campaign events and their impact.

In addition, two major sweepstakes will give donors the chance to win music-focused experiences: In October and November – a trip for two to London with round-trip flights on Alaska Airlines, a three-night stay at the Kimpton Fitzroy London, and concert tickets; and in December and January a music-themed cruise on Norwegian Cruise Line.

For more information about the 2026 “Music’s In Our Blood” campaign, blood drive dates and how to get involved, visit bloodworksnw.org/music.

About Bloodworks Northwest

Donations to Bloodworks Northwest provide lifesaving blood supply to 95% of Pacific Northwest hospitals. Since 1944, Bloodworks has served the Pacific Northwest as a local, nonprofit, independent, volunteer-supported and community-based blood center. Bloodworks partners closely with local hospitals to deliver the highest level of patient care. Its comprehensive services include blood components, complex cross-matching, specialized lab services for organ transplants, care for patients with blood disorders and collection of cord blood stem cells for cancer treatment. Patients with traumatic injuries, undergoing surgeries or organ transplantation, or receiving treatment for cancer and blood disorders all depend on its services, expertise, laboratories and research. Hear lifesaving stories on the Bloodworks 101 Podcast. Blood donation appointments can be scheduled at BloodworksNW.org.

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MEDIA CONTACT

John Yeager
[email protected]