From Lifelong Donor to Big Game VIP: Tom Scoles’ Story of Giving Back
For nearly five decades, Tom Scoles has been part of the community of donors at Stanford Blood Center. What started as a simple act during high school has grown into a lifelong commitment to helping patients in need. Recently, that commitment led to an unforgettable reward: a once-in-a-lifetime trip to the biggest game in football at Levi’s Stadium. But for Tom, the real story isn’t about the prize. It’s about the power of donating blood and being part of a community that helps save lives.
Tom is proud of his California roots. An eighth-generation Californian, he lives in San Jose and works as a department manager in aerospace, helping build missle defense systems. Outside of work, sports have always played a big role in his life.
Growing up, Tom played Little League baseball, high school soccer and track, and played sports in college. These days, golf is his main sport, but his love for competition hasn’t faded. He runs a March Madness bracket challenge, plays fantasy football, and follows football year-round. So, when a blood donation promotion offered donors the chance to win football championship tickets, it caught his attention. Still, Tom’s connection to donating blood goes back much further.
A Donation That Turned into a Habit
Tom gave his first blood donation in 1978 when he was a high school junior. He realized that blood donation was a simple way to do something meaningful for others, and it also supported the university community where his father worked. For Tom, his reason for donating blood is straightforward.
“Blood donation is a simple way to make an immediate and important impact on someone in a serious situation,” he explains. “It’s founded in basic kindness and a desire to help others in need. It’s also rooted in being part of the community, like joining a team committed not only to winning, but feeling good about playing the game.”
That simple philosophy has kept him donating ever since. And even though every donation helps ensure that hospitals across the region have the blood they need for surgeries, cancer treatments, trauma care, and more – blood donors sometimes get to experience a few memorable moments along the way.
A VIP Weekend to Remember
Through a recent promotion, Tom won the tickets for him and his three adult children to The Championship Football Game at Levi’s Stadium on February 8. The experience was extraordinary and from the start they were treated like VIPs.
Their weekend began with a special concert event in San Francisco at the Palace of Fine Arts and before the show, the family spent the day exploring the city. They walked through Fort Mason, visited Ghirardelli Square, and stopped by Fisherman’s Wharf. And when they arrived at the concert venue, the VIP treatment was unmistakable. They walked up on a red carpet, another memorable moment for the family.
Inside, the event featured a wide range of food and drinks, appearances from sports and entertainment personalities like Rob Lowe, and conversations with sports legends including Tim Brown and Joe Theismann. But the highlight of the night? A high-energy performance by The Killers.
“We squeezed close to the front, about 20 feet from the stage,” Tom says. “They rocked the crowd for over an hour.”
Feeling the Game Day Energy
On game day, the excitement ramped up even further. Walking into the fan zone felt like a giant celebration. Their VIP access included a private area with food, drinks, and performances.
“It was like walking down Bourbon Street during Mardi Gras,” Tom says. “Music, games, people everywhere. It was electric.”
At one point, The Chainsmokers took the stage to energize the crowd before kickoff. And the pregame show included a performance from Green Day, a massive fan display during the national anthem, and a thunderous military flyover that shook the stadium. Inside the stadium, Tom’s group discovered their seats were near the 10-yard line – a fantastic view.
But one of Tom’s most surprising moments happened away from the field. While standing near an elevator, he struck up a conversation with a few fellow fans about donating blood.
“I had no idea who I was talking to at first,” Tom laughs.
Only afterwards did he realize who they were: Pro Football Hall of Fame Class of 2026 inductees Drew Brees and Larry Fitzgerald. Throughout the weekend, Tom and his daughter shared that story with other fans and explained that the trip was possible because of his years as a blood donor.
Spreading the Word
For Tom, the experience reinforced something he already believed. Small actions can make a big difference. He shared the story with friends when he got home and within a week, two people in his immediate circle had already made an appointment and donated blood.
Looking ahead, Tom hopes to continue supporting the donor community in any way he can. “I plan to offer my time and service to help boost donations,” he says.
His message to others is simple. Talk to friends. Talk to neighbors. Encourage them to donate.
“This is one donation where you absolutely know 100 percent of it goes directly to a patient who needs it.”
And if you happen to score an unforgettable experience along the way? Well, that’s just a bonus.