My Blood Across America Journey – A Mission to Save Lives

Hello! I’m Vinton Smith, a lifelong blood donor from Gettysburg, Pennsylvania. Over the past 37 years, I’ve donated more than 17 gallons of blood and 78 units of platelets and plasma across most of the United States. See my Blood and Platelet donation maps below!

My first 20 years of donations were at schools, fire halls, shopping malls, churches, and other places in my local communities. In 2008, my new job with Elanco Animal Health required extensive travel, making it difficult to donate regularly in my local area. So, I began donating in the various states where I traveled for business.

After three years and 16 states, I set an ambitious goal—to donate blood in all 50 states! Family vacations became part of this mission, and as my children grew older, they joined me in donating whenever we traveled.

Give Blood, Save Lives, Create Moments

In June 2024, Alaska Airlines partnered with me to complete my 49th state donation in Alaska, marking a milestone in my journey. They also showed their commitment to the cause with a $10,000 donation to the Blood Bank of Alaska. Read more about this donation here!

Now, on to Hawaii... On June 14, 2025—World Blood Donor Day—I will complete my 50th state donation in the 50th state. With the continued support of Alaska Airlines and the Blood Bank of Hawaii, we aim to set a new record for blood donations that weekend in Hawaii.

Join me on this lifesaving journey!

Vinton's Blood & Platelet Donations

Every donation is shown here... Blood and Platelets!