SDCCU supporting one of the largest, single-day blood drives in the nation
SAN DIEGO, CA (November 18, 2014) -- San Diego County Credit Union® (SDCCU®), San Diego’s largest locally-owned financial institution, as part as its ongoing commitment to support life-saving events in the community, is returning as the presenting sponsor of the San Diego Blood Bank’s Chargers Blood Drive XXXVI.
The 36th annual Chargers Blood Drive will be held from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., Tuesday, Nov. 25, at the Town and Country Resort Hotel & Convention Center, 500 Hotel Circle South, in San Diego’s Mission Valley area. SDCCU has supported this event for the past 16 years.
“All of us at San Diego County Credit Union are proud to make a difference in life with our support of the San Diego Blood Bank because lives depend on it,” said Teresa Halleck, SDCCU President and CEO. “We encourage everyone to take advantage of this great opportunity to save a life. Together, we can make a real difference in the life of people who need blood, people who we may never meet, but whose lives have been saved through our support of the San Diego Blood Bank.”
As the community’s longest-running and most successful life-saving event of the year, the Chargers Blood Drive is one of the largest single-day blood drives in the nation. The event will feature continuous entertainment, refreshments and an opportunity for autographs from Chargers players and Charger Girls cheerleaders.
Over the past 35 years, the Chargers Blood Drive has collected more than 71,000 pints of blood. That figure includes one remarkable day in 1993 when the San Diego Blood Bank gained entry into the famed Guinness Book of World Records® as the world's largest single-day, single-location blood drive, with 1,853 pints collected. The Chargers Blood Drive has grown successively larger since its serendipitous founding in 1979 when then-Charger place-kicker Rolf Benirschke, who was suffering from a life-threatening medical disorder, joined with the Blood Bank to host the event. With the ever-popular Benirschke as the event's focal point, it has grown year by year.
At last year’s Chargers Blood Drive, more than 2,500 people attended and more than 1,000 donors gave blood for local hospital patients, according to Blood Bank officials. The 1,000 donors were in addition to the 2,000 donors who gave blood during the Chargers Mania Blood Drive, which took place the week preceding the Chargers Blood Drive day.
At this year’s Chargers Blood Drive, donors will be treated to a variety of food, entertainment and other goodies. New this year is a “Wellness Zone” with interactive health and wellness exhibits and activities. Also new is entertainment presented by Indi.com, which includes Pip, a finalist from season 2 of NBC-TV’s hit series “The Voice.” Other special performers will include bands and solo artists who have reached international acclaim on the Indi.com platform, an online talent discovery destination.
Parking is free for donors, who will also receive a voucher that may be redeemed for a t-shirt, as well as a VIP wristband for the autograph line. Donors also will have the opportunity to purchase an entry to win a new Honda CR-V, donated by the Honda Dealers of San Diego County, which will be given away on Nov. 25.
Free bone marrow registry testing will also be available for attendees. Participants who do not plan to donate blood but would still like to meet the Chargers and enjoy the festivities at the Town and Country Hotel & Convention Center will be charged a $5 entry fee for adults and $1 for children ages 12 and under. Blood donors may request their admission price be refunded after they donate. For more event information visit SanDiegoBloodBank.org.
San Diego County Credit Union is San Diego’s largest locally-owned financial institution serving San Diego, Riverside and Orange counties. SDCCU has assets of $6.6 billion, over 274,000 customers, more than 30 convenient branch locations and 30,000 surcharge-FREE ATMs. SDCCU provides breakthrough banking products that meet the demands of today’s lifestyle and delivers banking services that save customers money. SDCCU is leading the way, offering FREE Checking with eStatements, SDCCU Mobile Deposit, mortgage loans, auto loans, Visa® credit cards and business banking services. Federally insured by NCUA. Equal Housing Opportunity. Equal Opportunity Employer. For more information, visit www.sdccu.com.