Summer 2026 Philanthropy Update
One of hundreds of superhero blood donors at the Robert A. Heinlein Blood Drive at Comic-Con 2026.
Dear Friend,
On behalf of the San Diego Blood Bank team and the community we serve, thank you for your ongoing generosity and dedication to our mission. Because of your incredible support, we are making significant progress every day.
We are thrilled to share that our Mission in Motion Bloodmobile Campaign is 73% funded! Many thanks to our supporters who have helped us reach this milestone. We are getting closer to putting a new, reliable bloodmobile on the road to better serve our community and save lives. Our deadline to fund one of two bloodmobiles is October 2026.
Please make your gift today or support the campaign through our annual Gift of Life Benefit. It is right around the corner, and ticket sales are officially open! Join us for an inspiring evening dedicated to celebrating San Diego Blood Bank’s impact and raising vital funds for our Mobile Blood Collection Program. Get your tickets today before they sell out, consider underwriting the event, or donate a unique item to our silent auction. See the invitation below for more information.
We hope you enjoy reading the Philanthropy Update below. Wishing you and your family a wonderful, restful end to your summer.
With sincere gratitude,
Cherryl Castro-Lector, MA CNP
Senior Director of Development
(619) 400-8214
cclector@sdbb.org
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 and 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 73% 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 Cherryl Castro-Lector, Senior Director of Development, at cclector@sdbb.org or (619) 400-8214.
keeping life-saving blood on the move
Thanks to your generosity, we’ve added a new transport van to our fleet. Every single day, San Diego Blood Bank collects, processes, and delivers over 350 units of blood—a massive operation that relies entirely on dependable transportation. From bringing blood donations back from mobile drives to delivering essential blood to local hospitals, these vehicles are the backbone of our daily operations. Your gifts make milestones like this possible, ensuring patients across our community receive the care they need without delay.
Many thanks to the San Diego Woman’s Club Foundation for their recent $15,000 grant award, allowing us to close the funding gap for a new transport van. As a longtime partner in our work, SDWC’s continued support makes a lasting impact in San Diego County. We are grateful for their trust, vision, and dedication to helping move our mission forward and saving thousands of lives!
special thanks
San Diego Blood Bank is beyond grateful to receive a $20,000 grant award from the Hervey Family, a longtime community partner, for a new bloodmobile. Their continued trust and investment ensure that we can reach people in need through the blood collected in the region. Bloodmobiles are vital to our daily operations, and we thank the Hervey Family for their incredible dedication to our community.
SDBB’s 50th Robert A. Heinlein Blood Drive at Comic-Con Exceeds Goal
Comic-Con International and San Diego Blood Bank celebrated a historic milestone as the 50th Robert A. Heinlein Blood Drive collected over 3,500 pints of blood during its five-day run at the Manchester Grand Hyatt San Diego.
Held July 22–26, the milestone event helped strengthen the region's blood supply during one of the most challenging times of year for blood donation and gifted donors with a limited-edition Marvel® Spider-Man® T-shirt.
"The Comic-Con community has shown for nearly 50 years that heroes don't just exist in comic books—they show up by donating blood," said Douglas Morton, CEO of San Diego Blood Bank. "Every donation helps ensure patients have the blood they need when it matters most. We thank everyone who made this historic 50th drive a success and encourage anyone who missed it to donate at a San Diego Blood Bank donor center or mobile blood sometime soon."
Since 1977, the Robert A. Heinlein Blood Drive at Comic-Con has been an important part of the San Diego convention. In its long history, more than11,920 pints of blood have been donated by Comic-Con attendees, exhibitors, professionals, volunteers, and staff, potentially impacting more than 335,000 lives over the course of the last 49 years.
For those who could not make it to the drive, San Diego Blood Bank is offering the limited-edition Spider-Man T-shirt to anyone who donates at a San Diego Blood Bank donor center or mobile blood drive July 27 - August 31, 2026 (while supplies last).
Appointments will be honored first; walk-ins welcome. Eligible blood donors are encouraged to schedule an appointment at sandiegobloodbank.org/donate or by calling 619-400-8251.
corporate giving
Corporate partners play a meaningful role in helping SDBB meet the needs of patients and communities across Southern California. Through long-standing relationships and shared commitment, they help strengthen the systems that ensure blood is available when and where it is needed most.
Supporting our 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, CLICK HERE or contact Cherryl Castro-Lector, Senior Director of Development at 619-400-8214 or cclector@sdbb.org.
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
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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
