February Philanthropy Update
HEART OF HEALTHCARE
San Diego County Supervisor Greg Cox — District 1 presented the official proclamation for #NationalBloodDonorMonth on January 28, 2020, to SDBB’s Michele Corbett, Vice President of Marketing, Claudine Van Gonka, Public Relations Manager, Leslie Egan, Account Manager, Doug Morton, COO/CIO and Sherry Serio, Vice President of Foundation
Since 1950, the San Diego community has graciously volunteered its time, partnership, and blood and financial donations to provide a lifesaving blood supply for patients to live longer, healthier lives. We are grateful and empowered by the extraordinary care and altruism of our community and staff who fuel SDBB’s mission to save lives every day. This circle of giving unites us and connects patients to life by creating a lasting effect for generations to come.
On January 28, 2020, San Diego County Supervisor Greg Cox and the San Diego County Supervisors presented a proclamation to San Diego Blood Bank honoring January’s #NationalBloodDonorMonth. In 1950, San Diego County played an instrumental role in the establishment of San Diego Blood Bank. We are proud and grateful for our long-standing partnership with the County of San Diego and look forward to the next 70 years of collaboration to save lives and advance health.
February is heart health month. Enjoy this month’s philanthropy update and learn how blood impacts heart health. Philanthropy is an investment in life — we appreciate your lifesaving partnership.
With gratitude,
David Wellis, Ph.D.
Chief Executive Officer
Sherry Serio
Vice President of Development
TEAM SURVIVOR
JACKSON
Jackson was born with a heart condition called tetralogy of fallot, where there are four different heart ailments. At 3 months old, he underwent his first open-heart surgery to repair a hole in his heart. He received numerous pints of blood from friends and family during surgery, which saved his life.
Because of financial and blood donors, Jackson is a thriving 4-year-old! He will undergo at least one more surgery later in his life to replace his pulmonary valve.
FEATURED SPONSOR
Founded in 1892, the San Diego Woman's Club is an esteemed community partner, advocate, and financial donor of San Diego Blood Bank. Since 2002, the San Diego Woman’s Club has generously given $59,490 to help fund lifesaving resources. We are grateful for their philanthropic commitment and dedication to SDBB’s mission.
In January 2020, SDWC members voted and approved a $36,000 grant to purchase a new Trima Accel® Automated Blood Collection System (Trima system). This enables SDBB to replace and fund 10 out of 14 needed Trima systems bringing us to 71% of our fundraising goal. Their gift will save thousands of lives each year by fueling apheresis procedures that collect lifesaving blood components for patients in need.
Our gratitude for SDWC’s investment to advance SDBB’s resources. Thank you, San Diego Woman's Club.
HEALTH & WELLNESS
(courtneyk/E+, Getty Images) — American Heart Association
It’s National Heart Month and we want to talk about the muscle that pumps all your blood through your body to keep you alive and thriving—your heart.
Source: American Heart Association
YOUR HEART AND BLOOD
The normal heart is a strong, muscular pump a little larger than a fist. It pumps blood continuously through the circulatory system. Each day the average heart beats (expands and contracts) 100,000 times and pumps about 2,000 gallons of blood through the body. In a 70-year lifetime, an average human heart beats more than 2.5 billion times.
The heart has four chambers, two on the right and two on the left: Two upper chambers are called atria (one is called an atrium) and two lower chambers are called ventricles.
The heart also has four valves that open and close to let blood flow in only one direction when the heart contracts (beats). The four heart valves are: the Tricuspid valve, the Pulmonary valve, the Mitral valve and the Aortic valve.
Each valve has a set of flaps (also called leaflets or cusps). The mitral valve has two flaps; the others have three. Blood flow occurs only when there's a difference in pressure across the valves, which causes them to open. Under normal conditions, the valves permit blood to flow in only one direction.
The heart pumps blood to the lungs and to all the body's tissues by a sequence of highly organized contractions of the four chambers. For the heart to function properly, the four chambers must beat in an organized way.
What is high blood pressure?
Blood pressure is the force of blood pushing against blood vessel walls. It is measured in millimeters of mercury (mm Hg). High blood pressure (HBP) means the pressure in your arteries is higher than it should be. Another name for high blood pressure is hypertension.
High blood pressure usually has no signs or symptoms. That’s why it is so dangerous. But it can be managed. Nearly half of the American population over age 20 has HBP, and many don’t even know it. Not treating high blood pressure is dangerous. When left untreated, the damage that high blood pressure does to your circulatory system is a significant contributing factor to heart attack, stroke and other health threats. Make sure you get your blood pressure checked regularly and treat it the way your doctor advises.
To learn more about high blood pressure facts, risks and prevention, visit this link: PDF print out from the American Heart Association and visit the AHA website for more on heart health.
SDBB HELPFUL TIP:
When you donate blood, your pre-donation health screening provides a wellness checkup for your temperature, blood pressure, pulse, weight, iron and cholesterol levels. What a great way to stay informed about your health while giving the gift of life.
Sources: About Arrhythmia - AHA
INTERESTING BLOOD FACTS
Each day the average heart beats (expands and contracts) 100,000 times and pumps about 2,000 gallons of blood through the body.
In a 70-year lifetime, an average human heart beats more than 2.5 billion times.
FEATURED FUNDING PRIORITY
Campaign for life
Funding three new bloodmobiles
Invest in life and partner with SDBB by making an annual, monthly or one-time gift in support of the Campaign for Life.
The new bloodmobiles feature an improved design which creates a more comfortable donor experience and will play a vital role in ensuring the health of our community for years to come.
Bloodmobiles are critical to maintaining the supply of blood needed for local patients and can impact up to 21,000 lives each year. Your generous gift will support our fundraising goal of $1.35 million and fuel the design, construction and purchase of three new bloodmobiles.
To date, SDBB has raised more than $390,000 from individuals, corporations and community partners to reach 29% of our goal.
Special thank you to our financial partners — San Diego County Supervisors, Kristin Gaspar and Nathan Fletcher, The Morrison & Foerster Foundation, Barona Resort & Casino and GEICO who helped launch Campaign for Life with their generous gifts.
MONTHLY GIVING
Did you know that you can join our Visionary Circle by making a monthly gift to help sustain SDBB for the next 70 years? Monthly gifts fund SDBB’s annual greatest need. This year’s greatest need is to purchase three new bloodmobiles.
Visionary Circle Recurring Gifts:
$15/monthly — For just 50 cents a day, you can save up to 10 lives per month and impact up to 120 cancer patients per year who need lifesaving platelets during chemotherapy treatments.
$25/monthly — For just 83 cents a day, you can save up to 16 lives per month and impact up to 199 patients per year who need plasma to treat a burn or serious trauma.
$60/monthly — For just $2 a day, you can save up to 40 lives per month and impact up to 480 patients per year who need regular blood transfusions for anemia and rare blood disorders.
Or choose a gift level that meets your personal giving interest and make an impact every day.
“Please give a recurring monthly donation to San Diego Blood Bank. Maybe you can’t give blood, but you can make blood available for those in dire need with your important financial support of the blood bank.
Forty-five years ago, I was in need of blood and San Diego Blood Bank saved my life. My mother, Marlynn, also relied on blood donations 17 years ago and we are enjoying our lives together! Thanks to the generosity of blood donors we live such full lives.
Having lived in several other countries, I am permanently deferred from donating blood, however my monthly gifts help to support the greatest needs of the organization. So please consider giving a monthly financial contribution to sustain SDBB and to heroes who will save lives.
I am grateful to everyone who gives blood, money, or both! ”
Experience a SDBB Tour
February 6th is National Optimist Day! In November, some proud members of the Optimist Club and loyal blood and financial donors joined us for a behind-the-scenes tour. They learned about how philanthropy fuels blood donation and helps to advance health through cell therapy, research and precision blood.
Reserve your spot on one of our monthly tours at SDBB Headquarters and learn how your gift impacts life by contacting Cherryl Castro-Lector, Development Manager at cclector@sdbb.org.
2018/2019 Impact Report
Click here or the image below to view SDBB’s 2018/2019 Impact Report!
SDBB NEWS
Congressman Scott Peters donated blood during SDBB’s critical shortage and made a special message for our community. Thank you for your gift of life!
GIFTS OF STOCK—Did you know San Diego Blood Bank Foundation accepts appreciated gifts of stock with tax benefits for the donor? For more information on how to donate your stock, please contact Sherry Serio, Vice President of Development, at 619-400-8818 or sserio@sdbb.org.
MATCHING GIFTS—Ask your employer if your company has an employee matching program. Double your impact and encourage corporate giving to local nonprofits like SDBB.
GIVE WHEN YOU SHOP ON AMAZON—Did you know that you can give back to SDBB when you shop Amazon at smile.amazon.com? Choose SDBB as your preferred charity and The AmazonSmile Foundation will donate 0.5% of the purchase price from your eligible AmazonSmile purchases directly to SDBB. Learn more.
EXPERIENCE A SDBB TOUR—Reserve your spot on one of our monthly behind-the-scenes tours at SDBB and learn how your gift impacts life. Contact Cherryl Castro-Lector, Development Manager at cclector@sdbb.org.
SHARE YOUR STORY —Have you received a blood transfusion? Do you donate blood? Are you a grateful patient with a story share? We want to hear from you! Share your story with our team and help spread awareness of the importance of blood donation and SDBB’s mission to save lives. Contact Claudine Van Gonka, Public Relations Manager at cvangonka@sdbb.org.
DONATE YOUR BLOOD DONOR POINTS BACK TO SDBB —There are many ways to support SDBB’s critical needs by donating back blood donor reward points to SDBB! Your donated points will help support the critical need for three new bloodmobiles, seven new Trima systems and provide supplies for your favorite donor center. Double your impact from the donor store at mysdbb.org.
COMMUNITY AND DIY FUNDRAISING —Partner with SDBB and fundraise with your company, team or for a special event and give back to SDBB! Donate your birthday with a Facebook fundraiser or join our SDBB Ambassador program to help crowdfund the purchase of three new bloodmobiles. To learn more, click here and/or contact Alexandria Embleton, Development Coordinator at aembleton@sdbb.org.
HELPFUL LINKS
SUBSCRIBE
Don’t miss out on special events, philanthropy updates, news, announcements and more by joining the Foundation’s mailing list.DONATE BLOOD
Make an appointment to donate blood for #NationalBloodDonorMonth and save lives.AMAZON SMILE
Set San Diego Blood Bank as your charity on Amazon.Smile and Amazon gives when you shop!FINANCIAL INFORMATION
View our tax ID or important financial informationCONTACT FOUNDATION
Send us a note with any questions about SDBB Foundation, ways to make a gift, or how to get involved.
THANK YOU TO OUR TOP SPONSORS
NEWSLETTER ARCHIVE
In partnership with our community, San Diego Blood Bank Foundation is the fundraising entity that supports critical resources for blood donations, advances San Diego Blood Bank’s critical healthcare role, and fuels collaboration with cutting-edge research and clinical organizations to advance cell therapy and precision medicine.
