Spring 2026 Philanthropy Update
SDBB bloodmobiles at the Padres 10th Annual Summer Blood Drive at Petco Park, May 5, 2026.
Dear Friend,
Warm spring greetings from San Diego Blood Bank!
At SDBB, we are committed to demonstrating the tangible outcomes of your generosity, and we are pleased to provide you with an update on our recent achievements.
Thanks to the generosity of our financial supporters, we have successfully met our $50,000 goal to fund a new life-saving bloodmobile. Funds raised through the Spring Match Challenge will further support the ongoing development of this essential vehicle.
Our Spring Appeal continues until June 30th. To support our Mission in Motion Campaign, please click the "Give Now" button to contribute. We are halfway to our $750,000 goal to secure the first of two bloodmobiles! Help us close the funding gap today.
Your contributions have enabled SDBB to experience a productive year, and we are excited to share our accomplishments in the Annual Impact Report, which has been mailed out this week. If you have not yet received your copy, you can access it HERE.
Thank you for being an integral part of our community. We encourage you to take a moment to review the impact of your support.
With sincere gratitude,
Cherryl Castro-Lector, MA CNP
Senior Director of Development
(619) 400-8214
cclector@sdbb.org
save-the-date
Gift of Life Benefit
Thursday, October 8, 2026, 6:00 - 9:00pm
Vesper Venue, Liberty Station
Join us to celebrate the lives saved and the blood and financial donors that make our life-saving work possible. Funds raised will help fund a new bloodmobile to serve our community.
Details and ticket information coming soon!
The Impact of Your Support
2024/2025 Impact Report
Philanthropy impacts every aspect of the mission of San Diego Blood Bank. Generous individual, corporate and foundation donors support our greatest needs for blood collection supplies, equipment, and innovative research. Financial gifts help us save lives every day.
CLICK HERE to view the digital Impact Report
Featured Funding Priority
Our mission in Motion
As a nonprofit, San Diego Blood Bank relies on financial support from the community to help fund vital capital needs like bloodmobiles. Did you know that almost 75% of first-time blood donors come from mobile blood drives?
Your support of a new bloodmobile allows us to:
Make blood donation accessible to more volunteer blood donors
Meet the growing demand for life-saving blood components for local patients
Serve more communities and hospital partners, impacting lives throughout Southern California
SDBB bloodmobiles are fully customized to meet our strict requirements to facilitate vital equipment and to provide donors with a safe and comfortable donation experience. Our new bloodmobiles also feature solar generators that reduce emissions and noise by allowing us to shut off the diesel motor during blood drives.
Our goal is to raise $750,000 for the first of two new bloodmobiles by October 2026, and we are well on our way with $400,368 (53.4%) raised so far. Every gift, no matter the size, ensures we can continue to meet the needs of patients across Southern California for years to come. For more information about the campaign, please contact Cherry Castro-Lector, Senior Director of Development, at cclector@sdbb.org or (619) 400-8214.
10th Annual Padres Summer Blood Drive a resounding success
Approximately 650 pints of blood were collected at the Padres 10th annual Summer Blood Drive yesterday at Petco Park’s Gallagher Square. Donors received a Padres Summer Blood Drive UPF 50 Sun Shirt and access to a pair of tickets to the Padres home game on May 27 against the Philadelphia Phillies as a thank you for their lifesaving gifts.
"Ten years of partnership with the San Diego Padres has helped build one of our most impactful community blood drives," said San Diego Blood Bank CEO Douglas Morton. "It’s inspiring to see so many donors come together to continue that legacy and support patients in need."
Since one pint of blood could potentially save up to three lives, the blood collected at this year's Padres Summer Blood Drive could save up to 1,950 lives in Southern California. Since 2017, the San Diego Padres have helped collect more than 4,800 pints of blood supporting thousands of patients in Southern California hospitals.
Thank you to Sycuan Casino Resort, our presenting sponsor for the 10th Annual Padres Summer Blood Drive! Their generous $15,000 gift will help us secure a new bloodmobile, which will support our daily blood collection efforts.
Community partnerships allow us to extend our reach and bring hundreds of blood donors together for a lifesaving mission. This year's blood drive collected approximately 650 units of blood—potentially saving 1,950 lives throughout Southern California.
Thank you, Sycuan Casino Resort, for providing your steady support over the past 10 years!
special thanks
Our heartfelt thanks to the Walter J. and Betty C. Zable Foundation for its generous $100,000 grant in support of the Mission in Motion bloodmobile campaign. This transformational gift helps advance the buildout of our new lifesaving vehicle, which will bring vital blood donation opportunities to communities across the Southern California region. Once completed, the new bloodmobile will support countless community blood drives and help ensure patients receive the lifesaving blood products they depend on. We are deeply grateful to the Zable Foundation for its partnership and commitment to saving lives.
San Diego Blood Bank extends its sincere gratitude to the Grossmont Healthcare District for its generous support through a $45,000 grant. These funds will be instrumental in replacing essential donor chairs at our East County Donor Center, enhancing our ability to serve the community effectively. We deeply appreciate your invaluable contribution.
San Diego Blood Bank would like to thank the San Diego County Employees’ Charitable Organization (CECO) for its generous grant of $1,131 in support of our collection efforts. This year commemorates 42 years of a lifesaving partnership with the County of San Diego, and we are sincerely appreciative of CECO’s ongoing financial support.
Save-the-date
The 50th Annual Robert A. Heinlein Comic-Con Blood Drive
Wednesday, July 22 through Sunday, July 26, 2026.
The 50th Annual Robert A. Heinlein Comic-Con Blood Drive will take place Wednesday, July 22nd through Sunday, July 26th at the Manchester Grand Hyatt. We are grateful for the continued support of Comic-Con, and the thousands of blood donors who show up year after year to help save lives.
corporate giving
Pictured L to R: SDBB CEO Douglas Morton, Sycuan Secretary Jade Martinezand SDBB Senior Director of Development Cherryl Castro-Lector, and Sycuan Councilmember Jamie LaBrake,
At SDBB, corporate support is more than a financial gift; it’s a lifeline. We rely on generous partners to fund critical needs, such as bloodmobiles, technology, and equipment to ensure that a robust blood supply is available for patients in need.
Supporting our $1.5 million Bloodmobile Campaign will help us expand blood collection opportunities to over 60,000 volunteer donors across many communities, meet growing hospital demand for life-saving blood components, and enhance the blood donor experience.
Corporate partners have the unique opportunity to have their company name on a bloodmobile and be recognized as leaders in community health. Every gift, large or small, directly impacts lives.
To learn more about making a lasting impact, visit: https://www.sdbbfoundation.org/corporate-giving or contact Cherryl Castro-Lector, Senior Director of Development at 619-400-8214 or cclector@sdbb.org.
An Important update
San Diego Blood Bank (SDBB) has entered a strategic partnership with Vitalant designed to strengthen local impact and create greater stability, resiliency, and long-term capacity to serve our region. SDBB will continue to serve Southern California communities with the same local teams, donor relationships, and community focus that donors and partners trust today. Philanthropic support remains critical to supporting our mission, and funds raised by SDBB will continue to directly support our local programs
If you have any questions, please contact Cherryl Castro-Lector, Senior Director of Development, at cclector@sdbb.org or (619) 400-8214.
honor someone special
At San Diego Blood Bank, we believe the most enduring legacies are those that continue to effect positive change in the world. By making a financial gift in tribute to someone special, you are helping ensure patients receive the life-saving care they need – today and for generations to come. To make your gift, click HERE.
You can also celebrate, honor, or memorialize a friend or loved one on a brick at our headquarters.
The Entry Plaza at our San Diego Blood Bank Headquarters welcomes more than 18,000 donors, volunteers, guests, and staff members each year. More than an entryway, this space serves as a living tribute to those who give, those whose lives have been saved, and those we’ve lost.
Through the purchase of a personalized brick, you can:
· Celebrate milestones: “Happy Birthday,” “Happy Anniversary.”
· Honor a loved one: “In Loving Memory,” “Forever in Our Hearts.”
· Show gratitude: “Thank You for Saving My Life.”
Your heartfelt message will inspire and encourage all who visit, while your gift will directly support our life-saving work.
For more information, contact Diane Owens, Development Manager, at (619) 400-8336 or email dowens@sdbb.org.
planned giving:
your legacy
Philanthropy is personal, and every donor has a unique “why” for why they give. There are many ways to make a planned gift such as stock, real estate, life insurance, will or living trust, charitable gift annuity, charitable remainder trust, and charitable lead trust.
For more information on legacy gifts to San Diego Blood Bank, please contact Cherryl Castro-Lector, Senior Director of Development, at (619) 400-8214 or cclector@sdbb.org.
donate your unwanted vehicle
to san Diego Blood Bank
San Diego Blood Bank is proud to partner 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.
It’s easy! Click here and complete the form. CARS will reach 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.
Shop. Donate. Save lives!
Did you know that shopping for everyday items can also support San Diego Blood Bank? Here are a few sites you can use to shop around while donating in support of our life-saving mission.
Roundup at Walmart.com: You can support SDBB when you shop online or in the Walmart app. Just choose San Diego Blood Bank as your cause and toggle on “Round Up” at checkout.
GoodShop: 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 San Diego Blood Bank.
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 San Diego Blood Bank. Your favorite retailers will start supporting San Diego Blood Bank.
Paypal: Supporters can donate to San Diego Blood Bank on PayPal, eBay, and other online platforms through the PayPal Giving Fund. Register and choose San Diego Blood Bank as your charity of choice.
Every little bit helps us provide critical blood products to our 30+ hospital partners and patients in need so they can thrive. Thank you for turning your holiday shopping into a season of giving!
Ways to Make a Financial Gift
MONTHLY GIVING — Join our Visionary Circle by making a monthly gift to help sustain our mission. Monthly gifts fund San Diego Blood Bank’s greatest needs. To join the Visionary Circle, contact Development Manager Diane Owens at (619) 400-8336 or dowens@sdbb.org.
GIFTS OF STOCK — Did you know San Diego Blood Bank accepts appreciated gifts of stock with tax benefits for the donor?
MATCHING GIFTS — Ask your employer if your company has an employee matching program. Double your impact and encourage corporate giving to local nonprofits
COMMUNITY AND DIY FUNDRAISING — Partner with us and fundraise with your company or team or for your birthday with a Facebook fundraiser!
HELPFUL LINKS
SUBSCRIBE
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Send us a note with any questions about the Financial Development Department, ways to make a gift, or how to get involved.SAN DIEGO BLOOD BANK NEWSLETTER
Don’t miss out on impact stories, donor milestones, Guardians Circle announcements, and organizational updates in our blood donor newsletter! Visit sandiegobloodbank.org/newsletter
THANK YOU TO OUR TOP Supporters
