August 2021 Philanthropy Update
Your support impacts patients like Team Survivor Quincy, who is undergoing treatment for acute myeloid leukemia.
San Diego Blood Bank is excited to announce that the first of two new bloodmobiles has arrived! The Omni 7 is one of two new bloodmobiles funded by the generous support of individuals, corporations and foundations, and is currently being tested before hitting the road for blood drives. Bloodmobiles collect 40% of the blood products SDBB distributes to hospital partners.
One of SDBB’s biggest blood drives of the year, the Comic-Con 45th Robert A. Heinlein Blood Drive, in connection with Comic-Con@home, is underway, and is a great opportunity to support SDBB’s efforts to help address the national blood shortage. The consistent growth of this blood drive over the years has been phenomenal and is thanks to Comic-Con fans from all over the world. You can donate at any of SDBB’s 8 donor centers or at a blood drive near you. See below for more information, appointments are encouraged.
The generous financial support from the community is also vital to our blood collection efforts, and we thank SDBB’s generous financial donors for your investment in San Diego Blood Bank’s mission to ensure that patients in need have access to a robust and safe blood supply. Your financial support truly impacts life!
With gratitude,
David Wellis, Ph.D.
Chief Executive Officer
Sherry Serio
Vice President of Development
the first of two new bloodmobiles is here!
The new bloodmobile has arrived and it is a beauty! The OMNI 7 bloodmobile is one of two new bloodmobiles ordered to replace aging bloodmobiles that no long meet California emissions standards.
The OMNI 7 design allows for more interior space and is equipped with solar panels on the roof and is equipped with batteries instead diesel generators, making it state-of-the-art and environmentally friendly. We are currently stress-testing the bloodmobile to make sure all systems are working properly before it goes on the road for blood drives. We are expecting the second bloodmobile to be delivered in September.
SDBB would like to thank the generous individuals, corporations and foundations that funded the bloodmobiles. Your support ensures that SDBB’s blood collection efforts can continue in locations all over the San Diego region.
special thanks
Price Philanthropies Foundation
For 25 years, Price Philanthropies Foundation has generously supported San Diego Blood Bank’s mission of saving lives in partnership with the community. We are grateful for their recent gift of $36,240 to fund 12 new HemoFlow 400XS devices for SDBB’s East County Donor Center and blood drives. The updated Hemoflow system will allow SDBB to collect approximately 10% more plasma, a blood component that helps patients who have experienced trauma, burns, shock, liver conditions, blood infections, and cancer. This generous grant increases our capacity to save thousands of more lives every year. Thank you, Price Philanthropies Foundation for your commitment to the health of our community!
featured hospital partner
Rady Children’s Hospital - San Diego
There is a critical blood shortage in San Diego. Rady Children’s Hospital has recently created a video calling for blood donations and talking about how they partner with SDBB to provide lifesaving blood to pediatric patients in need. For over 30 years, San Diego Blood Bank has been the primary blood provider to Rady Children’s Hospital-San Diego.
“We consider SDBB an essential partner for the care of our patients at Rady Children’s Hospital-San Diego. From providing live dashboard inventory management and nighttime STAT deliveries to performing reference testing and consultation on rare antigen negative units, the staff at SDBB is reliable, knowledgeable, and incomparably expert. We are so grateful for all of the work SDBB does to collect, process, and provide lifesaving blood products for our patients!”
— DR. DENISE MALICKI, CLINICAL PATHOLOGIST, RADY CHILDREN’S HOSPITAL-SAN DIEGO
featured funding priority
Blood Donation Chairs for the New Liberty Station Donor Center
With the build out of the new permanent donor center in Liberty Station nearing completion, SDBB is looking for sponsors of the last vital piece of equipment to ensure the center is fully equipped to service blood donors when the doors open in September.
Our priority is for blood donors to be comfortable while they’re donating blood to save lives, so we are raising funds for 9 new blood donation chairs for the Liberty Station Donor Center. Individual donors, online fundraisers, corporate sponsors and foundations are welcome to participate in this opportunity to make an impactful financial gift of $3,500, or other gift level that fits your giving interest, to help purchase a blood donation chair.
These chairs will provide years of service to thousands of donors giving the gift of life. For more information, contact Lauren Torres at ltorres@sandiegobloodbank.org or click below to make a gift today!
In addition to this giving opportunity, there are also corporate sponsor and naming opportunities available in connection with the new Liberty Station location. Please contact Sherry Serio, Vice President of Development,at sserio@sandiegobloodbank.org or 619-400-8188.
SDBB’s Leadership Circle and Visionary Circle giving programs are a great way to support our ongoing blood collection and research efforts. Join today to make a difference in the lives of local patients in need.
Make a one-time, annual donation to support SDBB’s greatest needs to sustain our lifesaving mission.
Join SDBB’s exclusive monthly giving program, The Visionary Circle, and provide steady income for SDBB’s vital programs.
Join SDBB’s Leadership Giving Circle to fund critical resources and have an even greater impact on the lives of patients in need.
Your support will help fund critical equipment such as Trima systems and Hemoflow units that help staff safely collect blood. With your continued support, we can successfully raise the funds to ensure that this new donor center is fully operational this year.
Donations can be made in honor of a patient, relative or friend. Build your philanthropic legacy by motivating others to support and further our reach in the community. Your financial gift will help get us up and running so we can continue to save thousands of local lives.
sdbb in action
the 45th robert A Heinlein blood drive
38-Day Blood Drive Alongside Comic-Con@Home
The Robert A. Heinlein blood drive is San Diego Blood Bank’s largest and longest-running blood drive. Last year more than 8,872 pints of blood were collected over the 26-day blood drive, Comic-Con's biggest year yet.
The drive began at San Diego Comic-Con back in 1977. That first year, 148 pints of blood were collected, and as the convention has grown, so has the blood drive.
Over the past 44 years 34,822 pints of lifesaving blood have been donated by Comic-Con attendees, exhibitors, pros, volunteers, and staff! These donations have impacted more than 104,000 lives over the course of those 44 years.
Please join us for the 45th Robert A. Heinlein Blood Drive July 26 - August 29. Donate at any SDBB location or community blood drive to show your support. Donors receive a limited-edition Marvel Black Widow T-shirt and Comic-Con retro pins (sizes subject to availability and while supplies last).
Your donations are desperately needed as there is a national blood shortage. Suit up for the community and donate blood! Every blood donation has the potential to save up to 3 lives.
To be eligible to donate blood you must be at least 17 years old, weigh at least 114 pounds and be in general good health. Donate at one of 8 local donation locations, find a blood drive near you or call (619) 400-8251. Appointments are strongly encouraged. San Diego Blood Bank |
For information on COVID-19 and blood donation, including restrictions related to symptoms, exposure, vaccinations, travel and mask updates, visit sandiegobloodbank.org/covid19.
featured sponsor
SDG&E
San Diego Blood Bank Foundation would like to express our gratitude to San Diego Gas & Electric for their $20,000 grant through the SDG&E SAFE San Diego Initiative. The grant will be used to expand SDDB’s emergency preparedness plan through the integration of emergency communications software. The system will allow SDBB to send emergency notifications when critical events, such as severe weather or workplace violence, threaten the health and safety of those at SDBB. It will also further ensure the health and safety of donors, volunteers, and staff. We thank SDG&E for its 21 years of dedicated partnership and supporting our mission of saving lives today and improving life tomorrow.
SDBB News
announcing the Guardians Circle Donor Pledge Program
The Guardians Circle is a membership-based appreciation program for blood donors that pledge to donate within 8 weeks from the day they are eligible to donate. Guardians receive special opportunities for being a member of the program.
Guardians Circle is a name reflective of the critical role blood donors play in guarding and protecting our community’s blood supply and overall health. Guardians go above and beyond to ensure local patients have lifesaving blood throughout the year. Guardians support their community by answering the call to donate when they are eligible to do so.
Membership benefits and special Opportunities may include but are not limited to:
Choice Rewards — such as gift cards and branded items
Entry into a monthly chance raffle with really cool prizes (e.g., airline tickets, movie tickets, gift cards)
Opportunity to support San Diego Blood Bank’s critical needs or another non-profit organization
Surprise rewards just for being a Guardian
For more information about the program and how to sign up, visit Donor Programs | San Diego Blood Bank.
Health and Wellness
To stay connected to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention latest covid-19 health updates click HERE.
Shop. Donate. Save lives!
While shopping for gifts or everyday essentials, you can also support the San Diego Blood Bank! Here are a few sites you can use to find those perfect gifts while donating to SDBB to support our life-saving efforts.
Visit smile.amazon.com and sign in with your Amazon.com credentials. Choose SDBB as the charitable organization to receive donation and start shopping! AmazonSmile can be activated in the Amazon Shopping app for iOS and Android phones.
Register and choose San Diego Blood Bank as your charity of choice. Then use their search engine to find what you’re looking for and click through to a retailer's site to make your purchase, part of which will go to SDBB.
iGive: This works almost the same way, but you use a button on various retailers' websites. Go through the iGive.com easy registration process and choose The San Diego Blood Bank Foundation. Your favorite retailers will start supporting SDBB.
Ways to Make a Financial Gift
MONTHLY GIVING — 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 619-400-8188 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.
COMMUNITY AND DIY FUNDRAISING — Partner with SDBB and fundraise with your company or team or for your birthday with a Facebook fundraiser! Contact Lauren Torres, Development Manager, at ltorres@sdbb.org.
CHANGEUP — Sign up on changeupforcharity.com, choose San Diego Blood Bank and Changeup will round up your purchases and donate the spare change to SDBB.
To learn more about the many ways in which SDBB’s lifesaving work has impacted the health of our community, see our 2019/2020 Impact Report.
HELPFUL LINKS
SUBSCRIBE
Don’t miss out on special events, philanthropy updates, news, announcements and more by joining the Foundation’s mailing list.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 information.CONTACT 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.
