Mike Capriolo first began donating blood in college for one primary reason: the campus organization that donated the most units at a blood drive would receive a ¼ barrel of beer. After that, Mike made donating blood a regular activity. “I got into the habit of every eight weeks, donating a pint,” he says. “It’s a simple thing to do, and a good thing to do.”

Once he retired in 2015, Mike knew he wanted to do more volunteer work. In addition to volunteering with his local Lions Club, Mike began volunteering with Versiti, helping at blood drives and the Wauwatosa, WI, donor center. He loves meeting new people and is passionate about spreading the word about blood donation. “Whether I’m at a donor center or blood drive, I enjoy greeting people as they come in and making them feel comfortable,” he says.

Over the years, Mike has gotten to know many of the regular blood donors and encourages others to give back, whether by donating or volunteering. “People feel good about donating, and you want to thank them for it,” he says.

People need people, make a difference in someone’s life by donating blood.

We must rely on each other for the gift of blood, and patients in your community rely on the generosity of Versiti’s blood donors to help. Please consider scheduling an appointment to donate. If this is your first time, donating blood is quick, easy and relatively painless. And, it is a great way to give back and help patients in your community.