Giving is Good
Dear friends,
It’s one of our favorite times of the year…spooky season, and donors like you are keeping the vampires at bay and our blood supply strong. Your blood donations and support of our mission ensure that our community blood supply is stable and ready to save lives.
Soon, the clocks will turn back, making our beautiful SoCal days a little bit shorter. Less sunshine can make the upcoming season tough. But together, through acts of service and giving, we can create a ripple effect of healing. Through this shared connection, we give hope to patients and their families so that they can overcome chronic illness, heal traumatic injuries, sustain their health, and enjoy more time with the people they love the most. You’re the reason our community stays healthy and strong. .
Enjoy this month’s highlights and exciting announcements below. Thank you for being the light for patients in our community.
With heartfelt thanks,
Your Blood Bank Family
Blood Supply Needs
Blood Types A-, B-, O-, O+ are in high demand.
Schedule your next donation today!
Blood is needed. Help ensure blood is on the shelves to save lives.
☎(619) 400-8251 | 🏥 Find a Donor Center | 🚌 Find a Blood Drive
HOLIDAY HOURS: ALL LOCATIONS WILL BE CLOSED ON THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 27, 2025, FOR THANKSGIVING
News
Bill Walton Blood Drive Returns on November 5th for Bigger Celebration at Grossmont Center
Join us for the 2nd Annual Bill Walton Memorial Blood Drive at a new location on what would be Bill’s 73rd birthday. Together, we will honor a legacy and save local lives.
WHEN: November 5, 2025 | 9:00 am – 6:00 pm
WHERE: Grossmont Center “West Court next to Chuze Fitness”
Presenting donors at this blood drive on November 5, 2025, will receive an exclusive Bill Walton Memorial Blood Drive T-shirt, while sizes and supplies last, as a gift for saving lives.
Book Your Appointment ->
Thank You, SeaWorld San Diego!
Thanks to our partner, SeaWorld San Diego, and our life-saving donors, we have had another incredible September of bringing in new donors and collecting more donations than last year!
HOWL-O-SCREAM TICKETS EXPIRE NOVEMBER 1!
If you donated in September, remember that you have through November 1, 2025, on select nights only to redeem your Howl-O-Scream Ticket at SeaWorld San Diego!
We hope you enjoy this frightening (yet fun) experience!
Guardians Circle
Guardians Circle is San Diego Blood Bank’s donor appreciation program.
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 13,500 heroes in this incredible group.
Guardians Circle 75th Anniversary Rewards
🛡All donation types count toward these milestones. Double red cell donations (2RBC) count as two donations for GC75 Rewards.
🛡Guardians will receive appreciation gifts as they meet each qualifying milestone for donations between January 1, 2025 – December 31, 2025 via email offer.
🛡Due to eligibility timing (a) Only plasma and platelet donors can donate 10 or more times in one year; (b) Only platelet donors can donate 16 or more times in a single year.
🛡When you join Guardians Circle or re-enter Member status, all 2025 donations will be included in your GC75 Rewards donation count.
To our Guardians, thank you for your commitment to saving lives!
MEET AL CONDE
Al (pictured) is one of our very dedicated Guardians who has donated more than 100 gallons! Check him out showing off his GC75 gear next to his past donor appreciation items and mementos. Thank you for all that you give, Al, and thanks for sharing your photo with us and your fellow Guardians.
Mark Your Calendar
PROMOTION: OCTOBER 1 - 31, 2025
Last Chance to Take Home a Mickey Mouse Vampire T-shirt in October!
There’s still time to get a spooktacular treat! Donate blood through October 31 at any of our donor centers or blood drives to get your Mickey vampire T-shirt! Don’t wait! Schedule your appointment now so you don’t miss out on this cool promotion.
Find a Blood Drive or Donor Center & Schedule Your Donation!
Promotion disclaimer: Presenting donors at any location will receive one (1) Mickey Mouse Vampire T-shirt, while sizes and supplies last October 1 – 31, 2025.
PROMOTION: NOVEMBER 1 - 30, 2025
Learn More About Your Health When You Donate in November - A1C Testing with Blood Donation
Donate Blood, Plasma, or Platelets in November at any San Diego Blood Bank or Southern California Blood Bank donor center or blood drive and get an added health benefit — a Free A1C Test*!
Within 3-4 days post donation, donors can log into their donor portal and view their A1C screening test results*** to learn if their numbers show any risk of prediabetes or diabetes.
Please Note: Because a blood donation is required to receive A1C testing, we are unable to extend this opportunity to donors who are not eligible to donate during the offer period.
*A1C testing with blood donation is available to successful blood, platelet, and plasma donors from November 1 – 30, 2025.
**According to the American Diabetes Association, Type 1 diabetes can develop in anyone at any age, and many people with Type 2 diabetes are at a normal weight or only moderately overweight.
***The results of the screening test provided are not intended for diagnostic purposes. We encourage you to share these results with your personal healthcare provider, as they can provide additional wellness and health information tailored to you.
CARMEL VALLEY DONOR CENTER HOURS UPDATE
Starting November 9, 2025, Carmel Valley Donor Center will be open 5 Days a Week!
San Diego Blood Bank
Carmel Valley Donor Center
3880 Valley Center Drive, Suite 209 & 210, San Diego, CA 92130
NEW HOURS:
Sunday: 8:00 am – 4:00 pm
Monday: 8:00 am – 4:00 pm
Tuesday: 10:00 am – 6:00 pm
Wednesday: 10:00 am – 6:00 pm
Thursday: 10:00 am – 6:00 pm
Friday & Saturday: Closed
Featured Story
Gift of Life Benefit Celebrates 75 Years of Saving Lives and Exceeds $50,000 Matching Gift Challenge
Thank you to everyone who joined us in celebrating 75 years on October 8 at the Mingei International Museum.
Shout out to our event sponsors, including our Title Sponsor, Professional Maintenance Systems, Inc., and the 10 other individual and corporate partners who sponsored this incredible evening. Special thanks to Delana Bennett from Star 94.1 FM, Continental Catering, and Mike Hogan of Fundraisers Only.
The Benefit Fundraiser gathered new and legacy supporters for an evening of food, entertainment, connection, and impact, where Dr. Tristan McKnight, Medical Director, Blood Bank/Transfusion Medicine at Rady Children’s Hospital-San Diego, shared insights on how blood transfusions extend the life of patients until they can receive the surgery or treatment they need to survive. Guests also heard from Team Survivor, Avila, who shared her leukemia journey and ambitions for her future ahead now that she is in remission. After her talk, Avila treated guests to a touching rendition of the song “Brave” by Sara Bareilles.
Through ticket purchases, a silent auction, and a fund-a-need portion of the program, more than $122,000 was raised to support San Diego Blood Bank’s greatest needs for blood collection resources.
Our Gift of Life Benefit was a wonderful evening that showcased community support for our mission. Thank you!
We’re deeply grateful to our event sponsors for making this celebration possible:
Title Sponsor
Professional Maintenance Systems (PMS)
Community Circulator Sponsor
Ms. Janet Roemer
Pulse Partner Sponsor
Marsh McLennan Agency
Blood Drop Sponsors
Antibody Design Lab
Jeff and Stephanie Brown
Tanya and Steve Castaneda
Douglas and Chandra Morton
RCP Block & Brick Inc.
Entertainment Underwriters
Peter and Sandra Phillips
Media Sponsors
Local Umbrella Media, Giving Back Magazine
Special Thanks
Delana Bennett of Star 94.1 FM, Continental Catering Inc., and Mike Hogan of Fundraisers Only.
National Philanthropy Day is November 15 and launches the start of our Annual End of Year Appeal and the Season of Giving!
This year, all funds raised through December 31, 2025, will benefit our greatest needs.
To ensure you don’t miss out on our fundraising events, celebrations, and ways to get involved, please join our Philanthropy Email List by filling out the form.
For more info about philanthropy and other ways to support San Diego Blood Bank, contact Cherryl Castro-Lector, Senior Director of Development at cclector@sdbb.org
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