PHOENIX – The Phoenix Mercury stands with Orlando, and this Saturday, June 18, at the team’s third annual PRIDE Night, will host a blood drive and raise money for the OneOrlando Fund through a silent auction, merchandise sales, and at concession stands. The Mercury takes on the Dallas Wings at 7 p.m. at Talking Stick Resort Arena.

The blood drive will be held in conjunction with the American Red Cross, which provides approximately 40 percent of the nation’s blood to hospitals across the country, and will take place inside the Casino Arizona Pavilion from 1:30-6:30 p.m. Each blood donor will receive a complimentary ticket to the Mercury’s PRIDE Night game that evening. (Donors are encouraged to make an appointment by contacting the American Red Cross at 1-800-RED CROSS or logging on to redcrossblood.org and using the Sponsor Code: Phxmercury. Walk-up appointments are also welcome and will be based on availability.)

In addition, the following fundraising efforts throughout the game will benefit the OneOrlando Fund:

Fans can bid on unique silent-auction items that the team and its players have donated. Bidding stations will be located in the Casino Arizona Pavilion when fans enter the arena, as well as in the COURTyard powered by Verizon once fans are in the seating bowl. The following in-game experiences and limited-edition autographed merchandise will be featured in the silent auction:

§ Be announced and run out with a member of the Mercury’s starting lineup
§ Limited edition 20th season authentic game jerseys
§ Managing Partner Robert Sarver’s Row A courtside seats for a game
§ Lunch for two with Hall of Famer Ann Meyers Drysdale

A full list of auction items can be found here.

The Mercury will sell an official “Mercury PRIDE” t-shirt at the arena’s Team Shop locations, with the proceeds from every shirt sold benefitting The OneOrlando Fund. An image of Mercury center Brittney Griner wearing the t-shirt is attached.

Fans will also have the opportunity to make cash donations in the Casino Arizona Pavilion and the COURTyard powered by Verizon, and will receive a PRIDE bracelet for any donation of $10 or more.

Finally, fans can add a donation to their tab at concession stands, with all proceeds given directly to the Fund.

About American Red Cross:

The American Red Cross shelters, feeds and provides emotional support to victims of disasters; supplies about 40 percent of the nation’s blood; teaches skills that save lives; provides international humanitarian aid; and supports military members and their families. The Red Cross is a not-for-profit organization that depends on volunteers and the generosity of the American public to perform its mission. For more information, please visit redcross.org or cruzrojaamericana.org, or visit us on Twitter at @RedCross

About OneOrlando Fund:

The purpose of the OneOrlando Fund is to provide a way to help respond to the needs of the Orlando community, now and in the time to come, after the effects of the Pulse tragedy. The distribution of the funds will be administered by the Central Florida Foundation. The Foundation serves as the region’s community foundation and is home to more than 400 charitable funds. The Fund will support: Nonprofits that are supporting the victims and families; the LGBTQ, Hispanic, faith and other affected communities; underlying causes of this tragic event; other needs we cannot anticipate until we face them. The OneOrlando Fund is a project of Strengthen Orlando, Inc., a 501(c)(3) non-profit corporation created for the purpose of supporting and starting projects to strengthen the Orlando community.