A Pennsylvania native embarked on a journey to donate blood in each of the 50 states and successfully reached his goal at the Young Street Donor Center located in Honolulu, Hawaii.
Vinton Smith completed his journey on World Blood Donor Day, on June 14, with hopes of bringing attention to the impacts of donating blood.
“We were honored to welcome Vinton as he achieved his remarkable mission of donating blood across all 50 states. We deeply appreciate his contribution, but even more so, the important message he conveys,” stated Kim-Anh Nguyen, President and CEO of the Blood Bank of Hawaiʻi.
In addition to spreading awareness, Smith said he hopes to encourage all healthy and eligible donors to give blood.
“When you consider it, reflect on the difference you can create. The impact extends beyond merely saving lives,” he expressed. “It allows for moments in individuals’ lives to be restored that might otherwise have been lost forever. Just a few moments of our time can help restore a lifetime of moments for others.”
Smith’s journey has spanned 17 years, with Alaska Airlines helping by flying him to both Alaska and Hawaii.
