Giving is Good
Hello SDBB Lifesavers,
You’ve made an incredible impact this summer—thank you. Because of you, patients walked away from Comic-Con blood drive celebrations with renewed hope, families shared precious extra time together, and our shelves stayed stocked during one of the busiest times of year. Every donation you give is a gift that cannot be measured, and we are so grateful.
As we head into fall, we’re especially excited to mark San Diego Blood Bank’s 75th Anniversary in September—a milestone that belongs to you as much as it does to us. For 75 years, generous donors like you have ensured that patients in our community receive the lifesaving blood they need. We’ll be celebrating with special fundraising opportunities, anniversary rewards, and plenty of ways for you to be part of this historic year.
We’re also looking forward to the return of high school and college blood drives this fall, which are vital to making sure our shelves stay full for patients in need. Young donors stepping up to give for the first time often do so because they were inspired by you—their family, friends, and community role models.
Your continued support makes all the difference for the patients who rely on us every day. Thank you for being a lifesaver.
With heartfelt thanks,
Your Blood Bank Family
Blood Supply Needs
Blood Types A-, A+ B-, O-, O+ are in high demand.
Schedule your next donation today!
Blood & Platelets Needed Labor Day Weekend
Blood is needed over the Labor Day holiday weekend. Help ensure blood is on the shelves to save lives.
(619) 400-8251 | Find a Donor Center | Find a Blood Drive
LABOR DAY HOLIDAY HOURS — MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 1, 2025
We invite you to donate blood on Labor Day, Monday, September 1, 2025, at these select OPEN donor centers and mobile drives. All other locations will be closed.
DONOR CENTERS
Gateway Donor Center (San Diego) 7:00 am – 5:00 pm
Schedule
Sabre Springs Donor Center (Sabre Springs) 7:00 am – 5:00 pm Schedule
BLOOD DRIVES
The Broken Yolk Cafe (Del Mar) 8:00 am – 1:15 pm🩸 Schedule
Chick-fil-A (Santee) 9:00 am – 2:15 pm🩸 Schedule
News
Community Makes Comic-Con's 49th Robert A. Heinlein Blood Drive One for the Record Books
This year’s 49th Robert A. Heinlein Blood Drive at San Diego Comic-Con® was a remarkable success—thanks to our entire community.
During the 5-day blood drive we collected more than 3,300 units of blood, enough to help up to 10,000 local hospital patients receive the care they need.
Whether you donated blood, encouraged a friend to give, volunteered, or simply cheered us on, you were part of making this event memorable. Our new first-floor location welcomed more donors than ever before, and the energy in Grand Hall A was unforgettable.
We’re grateful for everyone who helped make this tradition stronger than ever. We even welcomed 1,284 first-time SDBB donors.
Special shout-out to Comic-Con International, Marvel, The Manchester Grand Hyatt, and Mad Engine for being a huge part of our blood drive. And super special thanks to our incredible SIGN TWIRLER for bringing the energy and helping us recruit more heroes with your super cool moves.
Last Chance to Score Your Marvel T-shirt!
There's still time to score your Marvel Fantastic Four T-shirt! Donate blood through August 31 at any of our donor centers or blood drives! Don't wait! Schedule your appointment now so you don't miss out on this cool promotion.
Guardians Circle
Guardians Circle Rewards Donors for Giving Back
Guardians Circle is San Diego Blood Bank’s donor appreciation program. This year, we’ve included Guardians Circle in our 75th Anniversary celebration by offering exclusive members-only rewards for giving 3, 5, 10, 16, and 20 times during 2025.
Every donation counts toward your rewards! Guardians Circle members are earning special milestone rewards throughout 2025, including branded hats, fleece jackets, cooler totes, and more.
Guardians Circle Donors Sustain the Blood Supply: By joining the program, you’re making the pledge to donate within 8 weeks of your eligibility date. Donating maintains your membership and gives you exclusive access to earn fun rewards, raffle prizes, and special opportunities.
It’s so easy to sign up in the donor portal! Join more than 13,560 heroes in this incredible group.
Join Guardians Circle 
To our Guardians, thank you for your commitment to saving lives!
Guardians Circle Members-Only Rewards
Guardians who were not eligible to donate during this promotion should have received an email offer to claim a Marvel T-shirt (pictured) and select a pick-up location at one of our donor centers. If you did not receive this email or did not place this order, please reach out to Donor Experience at rewards@sdbb.org
Guardians Circle Member Walter
Walter (pictured) has donated 13 times already in 2025. As a platelet donor, he donates often and is a proud Guardian! Check him out in his GC75 branded gear for reaching his 3, 5, and 10 donation milestones!
Philanthropy
Thank You, Financial Donors, Our New Bloodmobile is On the Way!
We’re excited to share that our fundraising goal of $750,000 for a new bloodmobile has been met—thanks to the generosity of our community.
Soon, this bloodmobile will be on the road, bringing lifesaving opportunities to schools, businesses, and events across Southern California.
Stay Connected: Join our Philanthropy and Fundraising Email List
Why philanthropy matters to your local blood bank?
Financial supporters ensure San Diego Blood Bank, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, can continue to serve our life-saving mission for the next 75 years. Our organization relies heavily on the generosity of our volunteer blood donors, community partners, volunteer staff, and financial supporters. As a not-for-profit blood bank, we believe in “people over profit”. We operate on slim margins and reinvest what we can in improving the work we do for the health of the community.
Click Here to Sign Up for the philanthropy focused email list to stay up to date on organizational announcements, fundraising initiatives, corporate sponsorship, annual giving, events, and more.
Subscribers can expect to:
Receive the Quarterly Philanthropy Update
Access to Corporate sponsor or partnership opportunities
Learn about other ways to give, such as monthly giving, estate planning, Donor Advised Funds (DAF), Gifts of Stock, and more
Stay in the loop and support San Diego Blood Bank’s greatest needs and capital fundraising initiatives
Questions? 
Contact Cherryl Castro-Lector, Director of Financial Development at cclector@sdbb.org
Mark Your Calendar
PROMOTION: SEPTEMBER 1 - 30, 2025
Get excited for our spooky September promotion—SeaWorld® Howl-O-Scream® San DiegoTickets!
Donate Blood in September at any San Diego Blood Bank or Southern California Blood Bank donor center or blood drive and take home one (1) ticket to SeaWorld San Diego’s Howl-O-Scream, while supplies last. Howl-O-Scream is a separately ticketed event held after-hours inside SeaWorld on select nights Sept. 12 – Nov. 1, 2025. Read More About Our Howl-O-Scream September Promotion
Find a Blood Drive or Donor Center & Schedule Your September Donation!
Promotion disclaimer: Tickets to SeaWorld® Howl-O-Scream® San Diego are available to presenting blood donors September 1–30, 2025, while supplies last. Howl-O-Scream is a separately ticketed event on select dates, September 12–November 1, 2025. Vouchers are non-transferable, not redeemable for cash, not for resale, and cannot be used as a General Admission Park Ticket to SeaWorld® San Diego. Click here for event details.
Featured Story: Team Survivor Patients Visit Comic-Con
Walking Gratitude: Team Survivor at Comic-Con
Each summer during Comic-Con, the San Diego Blood Bank blood drive becomes more than a place to give—it becomes a place to connect. Among the donors, volunteers, and fans, a special group walks the halls with smiles and heartfelt words of thanks: our Team Survivor patient ambassadors.
These patients, whose lives have been saved by blood donations, spend the weekend meeting donors face-to-face. For many, it’s the first time they get to say “thank you” to the very people who make their tomorrow possible. Conversations turn into hugs. Tears of gratitude flow. And countless Comic-Con attendees walk away reminded of the life-changing impact of giving blood.
This July, Team Survivor brought that reminder to life once again. They laughed with donors in costume, posed for photos, and shared their stories of survival. Every interaction was a living testament to the kindness of strangers and the powerful community that comes together each year.
Every patient is proof of what blood donations make possible. Every thank-you is a reminder that, together, we are guardians of one another’s lives.
KAMILA (pictured left, pink hair) and her family, enjoy dressing up to thank donors and this year they all attended Comic-Con together for the first time! Kamila has received more than 200 blood transfusions to support her health due to a rare form of anemia.
HAERO (pictured center) hit her 1-gallon milestone at the blood drive and spent time sharing her story with donors about how an emergency blood transfusion saved her life when she experienced a life-threatening blood clot.
MASON (pictured right in mask) snaps a photo with CEO Douglas Morton! He was excited to finally make it to Comic-Con this year after a few years of feeling the FOMO (fear of missing out). Experiencing the buzz and excitement at this drive was a big highlight of his summer after an incredible year of firsts, including graduating from High School at 16!
SEVEY (pictured left) made her rounds in her favorite costume with her parents to thank donors for their ongoing support. Sevey has received more than 58 blood transfusions since birth to help her overcome a rare and life-threatening form of anemia and will require blood every few weeks for the rest of her life
KARPOW TRIPLETS: (pictured center) Kristopher, Hunter, and Cameron partnered up with Mom to visit donors and staff to show gratitude for their gifts of life. Born prematurely, the Karpow Triplets are healthy and thriving today thanks to life-saving blood that helped them survive in the NICU
CHANCE AND CADENCE (pictured right) enjoyed visiting the blood drive this year to thank donors for helping to save their lives. Both brother and sister are thriving while pursuing their dreams as they manage congenital heart defects and other health challenges. Their gratitude knows no bounds as they would not be where they are today without the generosity of blood donors who’ve supported their ongoing care.
