May Philanthropy Update
We hope you are staying safe and healthy during this pandemic. San Diego Blood Bank is committed to the health of our community and is at the forefront of the COVID-19 health crisis. Patients who have recovered from COVID-19 have antibodies in their plasma, and those antibodies can be used to potentially treat those with the virus.
SDBB is a leader in providing convalescent plasma to the sickest COVID patients and was one of the early blood banks in the country to establish a “COVID convalescent plasma” (CCP) program. While hospitals across the country were looking to fill the dire need for CCP, we were able to not only meet our local needs early on, but also were able to respond rapidly to save patients in other states.
There have been many stories from around the U.S. of positive outcomes for COVID-19 patients following CCP transfusion. The Mayo Clinic shared safety data for the first 5,000 CCP transfusions in the U.S., and the conclusion is CCP transfusion is safe for patients and they hint of common positive outcomes.
As of May 20, SDBB shipped 130 CCP products to be used as a therapy for ill COVID-19 patients.
SDBB recently formed a partnership with Genalyte, a local company, to provide blood tube collection services. Genalyte has developed a serum antibody panel test for SARS-CoV-2. SDBB is also working closely with the San Diego County Health and Human Services to educate COVID-positive patients on how important it is to donate their plasma when they are recovered.
Philanthropy is at the heart of SDBB’s mission and we thank you for your continued support. Together, we impact the thousands of patient lives saved each year by blood transfusions, and now those ailing from COVID-19.
We value your generous support and partnership – thank you! Enjoy May’s philanthropy update.
With gratitude,
David Wellis, Ph.D.
Chief Executive Officer
Sherry Serio
Vice President of Development
Featured sponsor
Thank you, SDG&E
In May 2020, San Diego Gas & Electric awarded a $20,000 grant to support SDBB’s Emergency Preparedness Program through the purchase of ultra-low freezers, which are a critical part of a blood reserve system. The freezers will allow SDBB to store an additional five-to-six-day supply of O blood and rare blood types and can be stored for up to 10 years. Once thawed, the blood will be usable for 15 days. The system will proactively manage large-scale blood availability that will allow SDBB to operate more effectively during future critical periods of need.
We are grateful for SDG&E’s long-time partnership and commitment to SDBB's mission. Thank you!
EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS PROGRAM
To strategically address the COVID-19 pandemic crisis’ impact of blood collections, SDBB will store and freeze our current robust inventory of type O blood and allow us to focus on collecting additional type O blood types during the pandemic period, therefore, securing and sustaining the high demand of type O blood and prevent a shortage for the coming months. Type O blood, especially O negative, can be transfused into anyone, which is why type O donors are referred to as “Universal Donors.” It is especially important for trauma, where the patient’s blood type may not be known, and for babies, where sometimes the blood type has not yet formed. Only a small proportion of our eligible blood donors are type O negative, and only 7% of the population in the United States have the type O negative blood type.
COVID CONVALESCENT PLASMA
A SUCCESS STORY
A unit of convalescent plasma collected at San Diego Blood Bank made its way across the country to save a life.
Last month, John Antonelli, a father of three in Philadelphia laid very ill in the hospital with COVID-19, while his family was fighting to get him a convalescent plasma transfusion. They heard about how convalescent plasma could potentially help those suffering from the virus, but at the time, there was none immediately available in Philadelphia.
Fortunately, donors were already stepping up at San Diego Blood Bank, and we worked with John’s hospital to send a unit of convalescent plasma via FedEx. John got his transfusion the next day. Five days later, John was no longer on a ventilator, and five days after that, John got to come home to his family.
The Antonelli family attributes John’s recovery to the convalescent plasma he received and is thankful to the anonymous donor in San Diego who helped saved his life.
San Diego Blood Bank is proud to be a local blood bank that has the ability to serve at a national level thanks to San Diegans being absolutely amazing.
The Antonelli family outside their home in Philadelphia.
FROM OUR HOSPITAL PARTNERS
“We have families fighting for their loved ones in our ICUs. A shocking case was a 19- year-old who had only moments left to live. Fortunately, SDBB had a unit of CCP available which was transfused the same day. The patient’s condition, going down very fast, quickly stabilized after the CCP transfusion. The patient is now off the ventilator and is recovering quickly. The physician was very grateful that there was another treatment therapy, as he too, had no other options for his patient.”
“Over the past 2 weeks, I have been on countless phone calls about convalescent plasma with other organizations from California, Oregon, Washington, Montana, and Texas and they are amazed how agile and swift San Diego Blood Bank has moved to get ahead of the curve on this experimental COVID-19 treatment.”
Health & Wellness
As communities across the United States continue to fight the spread of COVID-19, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention provide health tips such as; running essential errands, protecting yourself while shopping, going to the doctor or getting medicine. To learn more, click here.
donor spotlight
David D.
Why do you donate to San Diego Blood Bank?
A friend invited me to accompany him to donate blood in 1970 at the original building on Upas Street. As a blood donor, I donated a total of 11.5 gallons over a 40-year time span. Due to health reasons, I am unable to donate blood, so I began making financial contributions. I like to support charities that help San Diego County residents and the San Diego Blood Bank is one of my favorite charities.
What do you wish other people knew about the organization?
San Diego Blood Bank not only collects whole blood, but also platelets and plasma products for burn victims and for various clinical research organizations and distributes blood products to 49 hospital partners in Southern California. Also, San Diego Blood Bank supplies blood and blood products to Children’s Hospitals in the region, including our own Rady Children’s Hospital-San Diego.
Why do you feel Trima machines are important in the organization’s efforts in collecting blood donations?
Fortunately, I have never needed blood or blood products myself, but my office manager's husband had bone cancer a few years ago so I became familiar with blood products from plasma after his successful bone marrow transplant. I have a friend who donates plasma every other Thursday and he has done so for more than 20 years. As a former self-employed businessperson, I understand that SDBB needs to replace its equipment and needs additional equipment to keep up with demand. For that reason, over the years I have made tax-deductible donations toward the purchase of capital needs, such as the Trima systems.
Featured Funding Priority
FIVE NEW TRIMA SYSTEMS
Currently, five (5) new Trima apheresis systems are needed to support the collection of COVID-19 Convalescent Plasma (CCP). Eventually, these systems will also support blood collections at our six regional donor centers and on our new bloodmobiles.
Impact of Trima Apheresis Systems:
Trima apheresis systems collect, spin, and separate whole blood into transfusable platelets, plasma, and red blood cells in real time.
A Trima apheresis system allows one CCP donor to donate 3-4 doses at one time.
This safe, closed-loop system, returns blood components that are not needed to the blood donor, resulting in less fluid loss and more specialized blood products for specific patient needs.
In addition to supporting the collection of CCP, this technology can support platelet collection long term. Cancer patients may need up to seven or eight platelet transfusions per week during chemotherapy treatments. Because platelet units only have a five-day shelf-life, the need for platelet donors is constant.
Trima Budget:
$180,000 to purchase five new Trima systems ($36,000 each)
Please partner with SDBB and make a gift that will help fund the infrastructure to collect even more CCP for those being hospitalized for COVID-19. We are asking for five new Trima apheresis systems to support the development of a comprehensive COVID Convalescent Plasma Program.
If you would like to make a gift or would like additional information, please contact Sherry Serio, Vice President of Development, at (619) 400-8818 or sserio@sandiegobloodbank.org.
Make a gift
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.
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.
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 freezer technology. 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 Trima systems. Contact Cherryl Castro-Lector, Development Manager at cclector@sdbb.org.
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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.
