Our Community Shows up — Saving lives Through Summer!
Summer is in full swing—and while many are off on vacation or enjoying a break from their routines, donors like you continue to show up.
We’re so grateful. This time of year is always a challenge for the blood supply. Schools are out, schedules shift, and donations dip. But it’s because of our loyal donor community—people like you—that we can count on a steady flow of life-saving blood when it’s needed most. Your consistency makes it possible for patients to receive the care they need, even when donations slow down.
A special “Thank you” to those who donated over the 4th of July weekend — your dedication to saving lives helped ensure our hospitals had blood on the shelves.
As we head into our biggest blood drive of the year at Comic-Con, we’re reminded how special it is to be part of something larger than ourselves. Every donation connects people in our community to healing and new beginnings. And every pint collected means more lives are saved.
Thank you for choosing to make a difference. Together, we’re keeping our community strong all summer long.
With heartfelt thanks,
Your Blood Bank Family
Blood Supply Needs
Blood Types A-, B-, O-, & O+ are in high demand.
Guardians Circle
You’re Invited to Join Guardians Circle!
If you’re a regular blood donor—or even just starting to give—we invite you to check out the Guardians Circle—San Diego Blood Bank’s donor appreciation program.
As we celebrate our 75th Anniversary, Guardians Circle members are earning special milestone rewards throughout 2025, including branded hats, fleece jackets, cooler totes, and more. (featured below) It’s our way of saying thank you to donors who show up for their community again and again.
So, what is Guardians Circle?
It’s an elite group of dedicated blood donors who pledge to donate within 8 weeks of becoming eligible.
By joining the program, you can be part of the elite group and earn great rewards just for continuing to do what you already do—saving lives. Members simply need to come in to donate regularly (within 8 weeks of their eligibility date) to stay a member.
You’ll also get helpful email reminders, uplifting donor stories, and access to exclusive raffles, giveaways, and promotions. It’s so easy to join! More than 13,450 donors are already part of this growing circle. Want in?
To our Guardians, thank you for your commitment to saving lives!
Questions about your Guardians status or our program? Contact us at Rewards@sdbb.org
News
Comic-Con International's 49th Robert A. Heinlein Blood Drive Preparing to Collect Thousands of Donations
San Diego Comic-Con is almost here, and we’re looking forward to saving lives together over the 5-day blood drive.
You’re invited to join us during Comic-Con at the 49th Robert A. Heinlein Blood Drive in our new location on the first floor of the Manchester Grand Hyatt in Grand Hall A, next door to Panel Premiums.
It’s happening July 23 – 27, 2025, and donors score a limited-edition Marvel Fantastic Four T-shirt and goodies, while sizes and supplies last. Walk-ins Welcome. No Comic-Con badge is needed to donate blood. And just a reminder, we recommend taking public transportation. Parking validations or parking passes are not available.
What is it like to donate blood at Comic-Con? 
Check out our Instagram Reels for a fun recap of SDCC2024 
!
Comic-Con Blood Drive 2025
Manchester Grand Hyatt San Diego
First Floor — Grand Hall A
1 Market Place
San Diego, CA 92101
The Comic-Con Blood Drive is open to the public! A Comic-Con badge is NOT NEEDED to enter the blood drive or participate.
|
Comic-Con's 49th Robert A. Heinlein Blood Drive — Day 1 |
Walk-ins Welcome! |
|
Comic-Con's 49th Robert A. Heinlein Thursday, July 24, 2025 |
Book Now➡ |
|
Comic-Con's 49th Robert A. Heinlein |
Book Now➡ |
|
Comic-Con's 49th Robert A. Heinlein |
Book Now➡ |
|
Comic-Con's 49th Robert A. Heinlein |
Book Now➡ |
Philanthropy
Join Our Visionary Circle — Charitable Monthly Giving Sustains San Diego Blood Bank
Becoming a Visionary Circle member means more than giving—it means investing in the future of life–saving care.
By giving monthly—even just $10/month, $25/month, or $100/month—you help sustain San Diego Blood Bank’s mission to support local patients, fund innovation, and respond to urgent funding needs as they arise by ensuring our greatest needs are met. From Donor Centers, critical equipment like Trimas and transport vehicles and bloodmobiles, your tax-deductible gifts fuel our impact. Monthly giving is easy, impactful, and flexible, enabling you to make a difference all year long.
Our Visionary Circle is a passionate community of blood donors, patient advocates, families impacted by transfusions, and former donors who can no longer give blood but still want to give back.
Regardless of your motivation for giving, every single dollar helps save lives.
Join the Visionary Circle with your $25 monthly gift and receive a special-edition stainless steel tumbler as a token of our appreciation.
Questions about philanthropy and monthly giving? Contact us at give@sdbb.org
Join blood recipient, former blood donor, and philanthropist, Rebecca in supporting San Diego Blood Bank by giving monthly.
“Thanks to the generosity of blood donors, my mother and I live such full lives. I support San Diego Blood Bank with a [monthly gift to support the need for critical equipment]… I thought I could help with that.”
Mark Your Calendar
PROMOTION: JULY 28 - AUGUST 31, 2025
Feeling super, but can’t make it to the blood drive during Comic-Con?
Donate Blood July 28 – August 31*, and you’ll get to take home a limited-edition Marvel Fantastic Four T-shirt, while sizes and supplies last.
🛡For Guardians who are not eligible to donate during the Marvel T-shirt promotion, you’ll receive a members-only email offer by the week of July 28th to claim a T-shirt while supplies last.
⭐Not a Guardians Circle member? Sign up now to lock in access for donor rewards, including email offers and raffles, if not eligible to give during the promotion.
*Marvel Fantastic Four T-shirts are available to presenting donors at any location or blood drive July 28 – August 31, 2025, while sizes and supplies last. All donor appreciation items are non-transferable, not redeemable for cash, have no market value, and are not for resale.
HOLIDAY: MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 1, 2025
Featured Story: Meet Emily and Liz
We’re honored to introduce Emily and Liz, a mother and daughter whose lives were saved by generous blood donors. Their journeys—years apart—remind us just how powerful each donation truly is.
Emily, (pictured, on right) our newest Team Survivor, lives with a severe form of Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome (POTS), a condition that makes even minor blood loss dangerous. Combined with extreme anemia, Emily reached a critical point where she needed a lifesaving transfusion.
Thanks to donors like you, she received the blood she needed—and today, she’s back to doing what she loves: swimming, reading, and planning new adventures.
If Emily could say anything to a blood donor, she’d say, “Every day I am grateful for the opportunities I have because of the donation you made.”
Her story is deeply connected to her mom, Liz, (pictured, on left) who also received a transfusion years ago after suffering a traumatic hemorrhage. At the time, there wasn’t enough of her rare blood available for a complete transfusion—but that lifesaving blood still made a difference.
Liz is standing proudly beside her daughter, “Thank you for giving my daughter the gift of enjoying her teenage years, and giving me the gift of being able to watch her do this.”
Now both Liz and Emily are proud members of Team Survivor—and their story is a testament to how every blood donation creates a ripple effect through generations.
Thank you for making stories like theirs possible.
We want to make sure you’re not missing out!
Please take a moment to log in to your donor portal and check that your email is “verified” and set as “primary.” Even if you’ve updated your email recently, it must be verified and marked primary to work properly.
Why it matters? A valid, primary email means you can:
Receive Guardians Circle rewards
Get donation reminders & thank yous
Find out when your blood is sent to a hospital
Be alerted when your blood type is urgently needed
Stay in the loop with our donor newsletter!
Questions or need help? 
donorservices@sdbb.org | 
(619) 400-8251
