Blood Assurance and Summers, Rufolo & Rodgers are bringing back a year-long competition that allows Hamilton County Schools students to save lives while earning money for their schools.

Summers, Rufolo & Rodgers has donated $105,000 in prize money for the competition. Participating schools will compete in large, medium and small divisions, with $25,000 awarded to each division’s first-place school and $10,000 to each runner-up.

Brainerd High School and Chattanooga School for the Liberal Arts will host the first two blood drives of the year-long competition this Thursday.

Brainerd’s drive will be open to the public.

“This competition gives students an opportunity to take the lead in saving lives while earning meaningful funding for their schools,” said Garry Allison, senior vice president of operations for Blood Assurance. “Every donation collected through these drives will help ensure blood is available for patients at hospitals throughout our community.”

Schools will compete within their respective divisions by increasing blood donations, promoting awareness and developing student leadership. To qualify for the awards, each school must achieve at least 10 percent year-over-year growth in donations and meet the competition’s participation and promotional requirements.

“We hope our community never faces a disaster or emergency that requires a large amount of blood, but we must be prepared if that day comes,” said Jeff Rufolo, firm attorney with Summers, Rufolo & Rodgers. “A strong blood supply begins long before an emergency happens. We hope this competition inspires students to lead by example while encouraging people throughout our community to donate. Every person who gives blood helps ensure our hospitals are ready when patients need them most.”

Officials said, "Blood Assurance must collect approximately 540 donations each day to support the hospitals it serves. The nonprofit is the primary supplier for all Chattanooga-area hospitals. Because blood cannot be manufactured, local hospitals depend on volunteer donors to care for trauma patients, cancer patients, premature infants, surgical patients and others experiencing serious medical conditions.

"In addition to helping strengthen the local blood supply, students will gain experience organizing blood drives, promoting a meaningful cause and working together toward a shared goal."

Schools must schedule their competition blood drives by Aug. 31. Only donations collected at participating schools’ blood drives will count toward competition totals. The challenge will continue through June 1, 2027.

Additional information is available at BloodAssurance.org/hs26.

Opening-Day Public Blood Drive: Brainerd High School Thursday, Aug. 13, 8 a.m.–2 p.m. 1020 N. Moore Road in Chattanooga.

Donor eligibility: Donors must be at least 17 years old, or 16 with parental consent, weigh at least 110 pounds, and be in generally good health. Donors should eat an iron-rich meal, drink plenty of fluids, avoid caffeine before donating, and bring a photo ID.