05/05/2026
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At 18, Grant is already a committed blood donor. He's given five times since high school. ❤️
For him, it's personal. Grant never got the chance to meet his grandmother, Carol, who lived with sickle cell disease and depended on blood transfusions. But her story shaped his family — and the way he shows up for others.
Both of his parents are blood donors who host Red Cross blood drives and support sickle cell warriors through their organization, Carol's Promise Sickle Cell Foundation.
“Growing up in a family of servant leaders, serving and helping others is a way of life,” Grant said.
Now a freshman at Sam Houston State University, Grant is juggling college classes, campus life, and adjusting to independence, but donating blood remains a priority. He’s also pursuing a career in health care and sees blood donation as foundational to the kind of professional — and person — he wants to be.
“I have sickle cell trait, so I know the importance and urgency of patients receiving blood transfusions,” he said. “It’s in my heart, so a busy school schedule doesn’t affect my ability to schedule my appointments.”
He's also seen firsthand how much blood donations matter for people living with sickle cell disease. He's met many sickle cell warriors through his family’s foundation, and he even found that his very first college friend lives with sickle cell disease.
Grant hopes his actions will inspire his friends to donate, too. Because for him, it's simple, and the reward doesn’t come from recognition or milestones — it comes from knowing his time can change someone’s future.
“I read somewhere that an hour of my time can give someone a lifetime,” Grant said. “And that’s all the reward I need.”