Join San Diego Blood Bank in Celebrating 75 Years of Community, Innovation, Service, and Hope
Blood Connects Us
When you donate blood, you may never meet the person whose life you save. Yet, in that moment, an invisible thread forms—one that ties you to a stranger in need, creating a bond that transcends time and distance.
For 75 years, San Diego Blood Bank has woven together these threads of generosity, forming a tapestry of connection, care, and hope across Southern California.
This tapestry exists because blood isn’t something that can be manufactured—it can only come from another human being. For patients in need, a single donation is more than a gift. It’s a life-saving connection, a thread that links one person’s kindness to another’s survival. But this fabric of generosity doesn’t exist on its own. It is held together by donors who give, medical professionals who safeguard, volunteers who serve, and supporters who ensure that blood is always available when and where it’s needed.
A single donation can save up to three lives. Each act of giving adds another thread to this tapestry—reinforcing a lifeline that stretches beyond one moment, one person, or one place. It’s a reminder that even the smallest actions, when woven together, can create something extraordinary.
A Legacy of Saving Lives
San Diego Blood Bank was founded in 1950 with a bold vision: to ensure that everyone in our region had access to life-saving blood when it was needed most. Leaders like Dr. Thomas O’Connell and Dr. Frederick G. Hollander, alongside community champions such as Dr. Jonas Salk and Mayor Harley Knox, laid the foundation for what would become a cornerstone of public health in Southern California.
This mission has never just been about collecting blood—it’s about the lives saved because of it. Our Team Survivor patient stories reflect the real impact of blood donors. Each of their lives is a testament to the power of a single act of giving.
Innovation & the Future of Blood Donation
San Diego Blood Bank has always been at the forefront of safety, innovation, and accessibility. In the 1960s, we became one of the first in California to implement hepatitis screening for all donated blood, setting new standards for patient safety. Over the decades, we’ve pioneered advancements such as the designated donor program and cutting-edge blood screening technologies that protect patients and enhance care.
But progress isn’t just about technology—it’s about people.
Expanding access has always been at the core of our mission. From opening new donor centers to deploying mobile blood units, we’ve worked to ensure that no one is too far from the opportunity to give—or receive—the gift of life. Every new center, like our newest Clairemont Mesa Donor Center, has been another vital link in this life-saving network.
And today, our commitment to innovation is stronger than ever. Through programs like Precision Blood™, we’re using genetic and molecular testing to help improve how hospitals match blood donors with patients—giving more patients access to the best possible transfusion outcomes.
As we look ahead, we remain dedicated to pushing the boundaries of medicine, expanding access to blood donation, and continuing the mission that started in 1950: ensuring hope and healing are always within reach.
This Story Is Yours—Be Part of the Next Chapter
For 75 years, this mission has been powered by people like you. Every donor who has rolled up their sleeve. Every volunteer who has given their time. Every supporter who has invested in the health and well-being of our community. You are the reason this lifeline endures.
And the story isn’t over.
We invite you to get involved and help shape the next 75 years of impact:
Every Thread Matters
One donation. One life saved. One connection that lasts forever.
For 75 years, these threads of generosity have strengthened the fabric of our community. Now, the future is in our hands.
Be part of the next chapter. Join us in continuing this mission of community, innovation, service, and hope.
Here’s to 75 years—and to the lives we’ll save together.
