A Pint for Kim Blood Drive Breaks Illinois Record for the Seventh Year in a Row with over 650 Donations in One Day

A Pint for Kim, the national grassroots movement founded in 2020 in honor of Kimberly Sandford, recently set a new record for the seventh consecutive year as the largest single-day blood drive in Illinois. On the day of the event, more than 650 donations were collected, potentially saving the lives of nearly 2,000 people.

The annual celebration of Kim’s life took place at Naperville North High School, where the campus was transformed into a festival featuring live music, a car show, food trucks, raffles, games, and activities for families. The event aimed to promote the mission of saving lives through blood donation.

Robert Sandford, Kim’s husband, expressed his appreciation for the ongoing growth of the event. “It is amazing to see this event continue to grow year after year, making Kim’s final wish an ongoing reality,” he stated. “Watching the community come together to support them and donate in Kim’s honor is incredibly special.”

Kimberly Benedyk Sandford fought a rare cancer for eight years and required over 40 blood transfusions due to chemo-induced anemia in the final months of her life. Following her passing in March 2020, her family organized a blood drive in lieu of a wake, which set state records with more than 500 donations on the inaugural day. This effort became the foundation of what is now a nationwide initiative.

A Pint for Kim continues to host blood drives across the country, raising awareness about the critical need for blood donation, with over 30 percent of collected blood going to cancer patients. Co-founder Kristyn Benedyk highlighted the organization’s impact, stating, “While we miss her every day, this movement allows her legacy of generosity to live on.”

The organization has also begun assisting other families who have lost loved ones by helping them organize their annual memorial blood drives, with the first event scheduled in Los Angeles next month. Benedyk noted the goal is to provide support and hope during their grief while sharing their own experience in hosting blood drives.