Smallscreen News

Celebrities support American Red Cross Zombie Blood Drive, details

By April MacIntyre Sep 24, 2012, 17:58 GMT

The Black Keys - Universal City, CA, USA © Andrew Evans / PR Photos

AMC and the American Red Cross are collaborating to raise awareness about the constant need for blood.

In the event of a natural disaster or even a zombie apocalypse, it’s the existing blood supply that will help save lives.

“The American Red Cross Zombie Blood Drive” campaign kicks off September 24 and runs through October 22.

It draws attention to this important cause through celebrity support from stars like Peter Jackson, The Black Keys, Joel Madden, Mena Suvari, Aisha Tyler, NASCAR’s Kurt Busch and EXTRA’s Maria Menounos, among others. Each celebrity will be “zombie-fied” through digital portraits created by “The Walking Dead’s” own special effects make-up guru Greg Nicotero.

As part of the campaign, the “zombie-fied” celebrity photos will run on-air in a custom Public ‘Zombie’ Announcement (“PZA”) on AMC and online at the network’s dedicated campaign micro-site, www.amcgiveblood.com. The PZA reminds viewers to use their brains and give blood through the Red Cross.

AMC is also organizing a special sweepstakes to thank those who support blood donation through the Red Cross. The grand prize is a visit to the set of “The Walking Dead” in Atlanta, Georgia. Details are available at www.amcgiveblood.com.

Participating Celebrities include Peter Jackson, The Black Keys, Joel Madden, Mena Suvari, EXTRA’s Maria Menounos, Jimmy Smits, Laird Hamilton, NASCAR’s Kurt Busch, Aisha Tyler, Elisabeth Rohm and Whitney Port

Donate Blood

Visit redcrossblood.org or call 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767) for more information or to schedule a blood donation appointment. All blood types are needed to ensure the Red Cross maintains an adequate blood supply.

A blood donor card or driver’s license or two other forms of identification are required at check-in.

Donors must be in general good health, weigh at least 110 pounds and be at least 17 years old (16 in some states with completed parental consent form). Certain height and weight restrictions apply to donors 18 and younger.

AMC’s “The Walking Dead,” the number one drama series in basic cable history for Adults 18-49 and Adults 25-54, returns for its third season Sunday, October 14 at 9pm. Based on the comic book series written by Robert Kirkman, “The Walking Dead” tells the story of the months and years that follow after a zombie apocalypse. It follows a group of survivors who travel in search of a safe and secure home.

The series, which garnered a 2010 Golden Globe® nomination for Best Television Series – Drama and won the 2011 Emmy® Award for Outstanding Prosthetic Make-Up, stars Andrew Andrew Lincoln, Sarah Wayne Callies, Laurie Holden, Norman Reedus, Steven Yeun, Chandler Riggs, Scott Wilson, Lauren Cohan, Danai Gurira and David Morrissey.  Season three of "The Walking Dead" is executive produced by showrunner Glen Mazzara, Kirkman, Gale Anne Hurd and David Alpert.

The American Red Cross shelters, feeds and provides emotional support to victims of disasters; supplies nearly half of the nation's blood; teaches lifesaving skills; provides international humanitarian aid; and supports military members and their families. The Red Cross is a charitable organization — not a government agency — and depends on volunteers and the generosity of the American public to perform its mission. For more information, please visit redcross.org or join our blog at http://blog.redcross.org.