May 2022 Philanthropy Update
Financial gifts support blood collection efforts like the Padres Annual Summer Blood Drive at Petco Park.
May is the month to celebrate Mom, with Mother’s Day on May 8 kicking off Women’s Health Week that was created to raise awareness about issues surrounding women’s health. National Women's Health Week is also a great time for family, friends, and the greater community to take actions to support women’s health .
Moms help San Diego Blood Bank collect and distribute lifesaving cord blood through our Cord Blood Donation Program and we are grateful for their partnership. To learn more about this impactful program, please keep reading below.
San Diego Blood Bank’s blood collection efforts are in full swing this month with the 6th Annual Padres Summer Blood Drive presented by Sycuan Casino Resort. We would like to also thank GEICO Philanthropic Foundation and First 5 San Diego for their sponsorships of one of the biggest blood drives of the year. Please see below for more information on how to participate.
Financial gifts from donors like you support SDBB’s blood collection and distribution of lifesaving blood products, helping to ensure a robust supply to our community. We are grateful for your continued partnership and commitment to our mission – Saving Lives Today, Improving Lives Tomorrow.
With gratitude,
Sherry Serio
Vice President of Development
SDBB in Action
Give the Gift of Life on May 26 at the 6th Annual Padres Summer Blood Drive Presented by Sycuan Casino Resort
The Padres Summer Blood Drive is one of SDBB’s largest blood collection drives and is an annual effort to boost the county's blood supply, which routinely dips in the summer because students are on summer break and donors are out of town. Since 2017, 1,918 units blood have been collected at Padres Annual Blood Drives – impacting up to 5,754 lives!
We are excited to partner with Presenting Sponsor Sycuan Casino Resort for the sixth consecutive year for this blood collection event. Sycuan has been a longstanding partner of SDBB since 1995 and has provided over $177,000 to help save lives in our community! Thank you, Sycuan Casino, for your generous support!
We would also like to thank Geico and First Five Commission for sponsoring the Annual Padres Blood Drive this year. The support from our sponsors will help fund 21 new Trima Accel® Automated Blood Collection Systems that are needed on our 10 bloodmobiles. These systems collect, spin and separate whole blood donations into three components – red blood cells, plasma and platelets – impacting up to three lives with each whole blood donation!
Thank you to our generous sponsors, together we are advancing health with lifesaving services!
6th Annual Padres Summer Blood Drive Presented by Sycuan Casino Resort
The blood drive is open to the community, and we invite Padres fans to wear their brown and yellow jerseys and ballcaps to join in on the fun at Gallagher Square while saving lives.
All blood donors will receive two (2) tickets to a home game at Petco Park on June 6 against the New York Mets AND a FREE limited-edition Padres Summer Blood Drive T-shirt!
Thursday, May 26, 2022 | 9:00 am – 6:00 pm at Gallagher Square at Petco Park [ Map It ] FREE Parking is available at the Lexus Premiere Parking Lot (Corner of Park Blvd. & Imperial Ave) [ Map It ]
Appointments are encouraged. Same-day appointments are available.
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. Eligible blood donors are encouraged to schedule an appointment or call (619) 400-8251.
meet Team Survivor angus
In Feb 2021, Angus went to the doctor with what the family thought was strep throat. Angus ended up with a diagnosis for B-Cell Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia, a long hospital stay, and aggressive treatment. Angus will continue in-patient and out-patient treatments for another two years.
Blood transfusions have helped Angus stay strong during his battle. Angus is a brave fighter and loves BMX, skateboarding and playing outside. Blood and financial donors help patients like Angus.
Featured Funding Priority
New Donation Location in Chula Vista at Terra Nova Plaza
Construction is winding down on the new, permanent donation location in Chula Vista at Terra Nova Plaza and SDBB Foundation is seeking support to complete the funding of critical supplies and equipment such as Trima blood collection systems, HemoFlow blood collection monitors, scales, stethoscopes, and thermometers, to fully equip the new location.
The existing temporary South Bay location hosts over 400 blood donors each month, impacting thousands of lives every year!
For more information, please contact Sherry Serio, Vice President of Development, at sserio@sandiegobloodbank.org or 619-400-8188.
special thanks
San Diego Blood Bank would like to thank the Nordson Corporation for sponsoring the San Marcos High School blood drive. Nordson Corporation is a dedicated blood drive host who continues to support our blood collection efforts throughout San Diego County. Thank you, Nordson Corporation, for helping to encourage and inspire a new generation of altruistic blood donors!
san diego blood bank
cord blood donation program
San Diego Blood Bank's Cord Blood Donation Program serves as a public cord blood bank in California and has cord blood collection agreements in place with participating hospitals in the greater San Diego and Sacramento regions.
In the past, when a baby was born the umbilical cord was discarded as medical waste. Medical research has since shown that cord blood is a rich source of life-saving stem cells that can be used to treat serious health problems in patients. Now blood from the umbilical cord is collected after a baby's birth and can be donated to a public cord blood bank like the one at San Diego Blood Bank. That cord blood can help someone with a life-threatening disease.
Cord blood collection is a safe and non-invasive process. If a woman chooses to donate umbilical cord blood, labor and delivery is not affected. No blood is taken from the baby, only from the umbilical cord after the baby is born and separated from the umbilical cord. After the cord blood is collected, it is stored at the San Diego Blood Bank and made available through the National Marrow Donor Program® (NMDP), Be The Match Registry®, for lifesaving transplantation in patients.
When a patient needs a transplant, his or her doctor will search Be The Match Registry for a matching cord blood unit or adult marrow donor. If a cord blood unit is found to be the best choice, the cord blood is infused into the patient’s blood where the healthy cord blood stem cells replace the patient's damaged bone marrow stem cells, restoring the patient's immune system to protect them from life-threatening infections.
San Diego Blood Bank Cord Blood Donation Program collects donated cord blood from multiple hospitals in the Greater San Diego region as well as in the Greater Sacramento Region of California.
https://www.sandiegobloodbank.org/donors/cord-blood-donation-program
San Diego Blood Bank Foundation’s Annual Giving Programs
SDBB’s Leadership Circle, Visionary Circle and Friends of SDBB annual 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.
Join SDBB’s Leadership Giving Circle with a $1,000 or more annual gift to fund critical resources and have an even greater impact on the lives of patients in need.
Visionary Circle: Join SDBB’s exclusive monthly giving program and provide steady income for SDBB’s programs.
Friends of SDBB: Make an annual financial donation to support SDBB’s greatest needs.
Your support will help fund critical equipment and supplies that help staff safely collect blood.
Financial 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 gift will help us continue to save thousands of lives every year.
Click on one of the logos above for more information and to read more about the how your gift can impact others, click HERE to see our 2020/2021 Impact Report.
May 8 is international thalassemia day
Thalassemia is a potentially life-threatening yet preventable genetic hemoglobin disorder that constitutes the world’s most commonly inherited hemolytic anemia.
It is highly prevalent in malaria-endemic or previously endemic parts of the world, including the Southern Mediterranean, Middle East, Southeast Asia, and Africa, but through the years and for some time now it has become a global public health concern, as a consequence of heavy population movements and increasing migration flows across the world.
Between 5-7% of the global population is a carrier of an abnormal hemoglobin gene. A percentage of this, the extent of which remains still unknown due to the absence of national disease-specific registries and new and/or updated epidemiological data, concerns α-, β-, HbE and combined forms that are related to thalassemia phenotypes.
About 80% of patients with thalassemia live in low- and middle-income countries, struggling to cope with an increasing burden of the disorder year on year. In the majority of countries with medium- and high-disease prevalence, patients with the most severe type, namely β-thalassemia, do not reach or surpass the age of 20-25 years. This is a result of belated diagnosis and suboptimal management of their condition, which could have been prevented given the existing ample knowledge, experience and best practices regarding the effective prevention, control and management of hemoglobin disorders and thalassemia, in particular.
Despite the ever-rising global incidence of thalassemia and in the absence or lack of effective prevention programs, awareness and knowledge about even the basics of the condition’s prevention and management remain largely confined amongst the general public, including carriers of the disorder and/or patients themselves.*
*Source and to learn more: Thalassaemia International Federation
Team Survivor Severina (Sevey) has alpha thalassemia major, a severe and life-threatening blood disorder causing hydrops around vital organs. Babies with this specific type of thalassemia usually do not survive past birth. However, with the help of 5 intrauterine transfusions from Dr. Ramen Chmait and his USC Fetal Surgery team as well as high-risk pre-natal care at Kaiser San Diego, she continued to develop and improve and had a successful birth. Now, she has to get blood transfusions at Kaiser San Diego every 3 weeks to stabilize her hemoglobin levels.
Currently, the only known cure for alpha thalassemia major is a bone marrow transplant. However, in addition to this blood condition, Sevey also has liver damage of unknown etiology and has been placed on a liver transplant list. Sevey no longer qualifies for a bone marrow transplant (which is the only cure for alpha thalassemia) so she will continue to need transfusions for life.
Health and Wellness
May 8-14
Source: www.womenshealth.gov/nwhw
National Women’s Health Week starts each year on Mother’s Day to encourage women and girls to make their health a priority. Whether you continue your current activities or find news ones, now is a great time for all women and girls to focus on better health, especially those with underlying health conditions, such as hypertension, diabetes, obesity, cardiovascular and respiratory conditions, and women 65 years and older. National Women's Health Week is also a great time for family, friends, and the greater community to take actions to support women and help them achieve the best health possible.
Source: 2022 NWHW Fact Sheet
The steps that build a foundation of good health are the same for everyone:
Visit a health care provider for a well-woman visit (checkup), preventive screenings, and vaccines.
Get active.
Eat healthy.
Pay attention to mental health, including getting enough sleep and managing stress.
Practice safe behaviors, such as quitting smoking, not texting while driving, and taking steps to protect yourself from sexually transmitted infections.
We all have our own reasons for wanting to be healthy and ways of going about it. It can be hard to take steps for good health. But discovering what works best for you can help you build healthy habits — habits you’ll be more likely to stick to for a healthier, happier you.
More on women’s health from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
COVID-19 Updates: To stay connected to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention latest covid-19 health updates click HERE.
other ways to support SDBB
Donate Your Unwanted Car, Truck, Motorcycle, RV or Boat to San Diego blood Bank and Help Save Lives
SDBB is partnering with Charitable Adult Rides and Services (CARS), a 501(c)(3) nonprofit social enterprise owned by a nonprofit and supporting only nonprofits through vehicle donations. CARS takes care of everything from the pick-up and sale to sending you the donation receipt and necessary tax documents. CARS is committed to treating every vehicle donor with gratitude and great service while delivering the highest possible returns to our partners. To date, CARS has returned more than $300 million to their nonprofit partners because of vehicles donors.
Simply click HERE to complete the form, and CARS will reach out to you to arrange the pick-up of your vehicle donation, at no cost to you. You will make a difference in the lives of patients needing lifesaving blood and your generous gift could earn you a tax deduction.
Gifts of Stock are a great way to make a lifesaving impact
San Diego Blood Bank Foundation accepts appreciated gifts of stock with tax benefits for the donor.
Donating stock is a great way to ensure you maximize your impact, with the added advantage of a tax deduction and removal of future capital gains.
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.
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 San Diego Blood Bank as the charitable organization to receive donations 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.
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.
