Winter 2026 Philanthropy Update

 
 
 
 

Dedicated blood donor Liza Galon celebrates her 10-gallon blood donation milestone with Team Survivor Kamila at the Padres Winter Blood Drive on January 27, 2026.

 

Dear Friend,

Happy New Year from San Diego Blood Bank! I hope the year is off to a wonderful start, and I am grateful to begin 2026 with you.  

During our Year End Appeal, 215 dedicated financial donors helped us successfully raise over $100,000 for critical blood collection resources! With your gifts, we will continue to respond quickly to emergencies, sustain our daily operations, support innovation, and ensure that patients across Southern California receive the blood products they rely on. Your partnership makes a difference in the lives of patients in need—thank you.   

Please look for our biannual Stewardship Report in the mail or in your inbox. We have plenty of great information to share. If, for some reason, you do not receive yours, you can view it HERE.

The New Year brings new opportunities to further our mission in 2026. As the need for blood continues to increase, so does the need to expand our reach and to continue providing a robust blood supply for our community. 

On behalf of San Diego Blood Bank, we wish everyone a safe and healthy 2026. I look forward to sharing inspiring stories of impact and philanthropy with you all year long. 

With sincere gratitude,

 
 
 

Cherryl Castro-Lector, MA CNP
Senior Director of Development
(619) 400-8214
cclector@sdbb.org

Featured Funding Priority

Our mission in Motion

 
 

Join us as we begin our new $1.5 million dollar campaign to fund two new bloodmobiles to serve Southern California.

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 $173,227.45 (23%) 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.

Help Fund a Bloodmobile today
 
 
 

special thanks

 

San Diego Blood Bank would like to express our gratitude to the San Diego Woman’s Club Foundation for its generous $35,000 grant, serving as the lead contribution to our Bloodmobile Campaign. We thank them for their continued support and for saving lives with us. 

 

The Grossmont Healthcare District has generously renewed its support for San Diego Blood Bank with a $45,000 grant. This funding will enhance operations at the East County Donor Center, a vital satellite location that has consistently served our community of blood donors. We extend our sincere gratitude to GHD for their continued support. 

 

Thanks to The Albertsons Companies Foundation | The Vons Foundation | The Pavilions Foundation for their grant of $1,500 towards San Diego Blood Bank’s High School Challenge Program. With their support, we can continue to rebuild and strengthen this vital youth program—ensuring that future generations understand the power of giving back and the critical role they play in sustaining a safe and reliable blood supply.

 
 

In the summer of 2025, the Starbucks Foundation awarded San Diego Blood Bank a $1,000 grant through its Neighborhood Grant program. SDBB was among 3,200 nonprofits selected for their impactful community work. Leveraging our strong community connections, we received a nomination from Bailey, a Starbucks manager and new blood donor. Inspired by her close friendship with longtime blood donor Ray Lebron and his wife, Fran, Bailey submitted a grant application and nomination to acknowledge SDBB’s significant contributions. Last December, Bailey and her colleagues hosted a blood drive at their Starbucks store. We extend our sincere gratitude to Bailey, her team of baristas, and Ray Lebron for their invaluable support. 

Thanks to Kendra Scott for their partnership in two fundraising events in December 2025 that raised over $700 to support our mission. Since 2023, our collaboration with Kendra Scott has generated over $6,000 in philanthropic support. We are deeply grateful for their continued support.

corporate giving

 
 

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 Christopher Tobin-Johnson, Corporate Giving Manager at 619-400-8235 or ctobin-johnson@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.

 
Make a tribute gift
 

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

THANK YOU TO OUR TOP Supporters

 
 
 
 

NEWSLETTER ARCHIVE

 
 
 
 
 
 
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