As we reflect on the accomplishments and advancements of 2024, we extend our deepest gratitude to our members, strategic partners, allies, and donors who have played an instrumental role in propelling the mission of America’s Blood Centers forward. Here’s an overview of the many successes and initiatives that have shaped the landscape of blood donation and advocacy over the last twelve months:
Continued Growth and Reach
For over six decades, America’s Blood Centers has been the backbone of life-saving efforts across North America. In 2024, we pushed boundaries and shattered records:
- Our network of independent, community-based blood centers now serves more than 150 million people,
- Collecting nearly 60% of the U.S. and 25% of the Canadian blood supply,
- Employing over 25,000 professionals nationwide,
- Collaborating with thousands of community partners to ensure a safe and available blood supply.
Empowering Leadership and Fostering Innovation
- We launched the Women’s Executive Leadership Community, a groundbreaking initiative aimed at empowering senior leaders throughout the blood community.
- In partnership with Vanderbilt University, we created the Executive Fellows Program to shape today and tomorrow’s blood community leaders.
Advocacy Wins and Policy Advancements
Federal Advocacy
- We hosted the 2nd annual Blood Advocacy Week with more than 80 national organizations participating, our biggest yet. ABC members participated in meetings with key federal agencies, including the FDA, CDC, NIH, and BARDA. These discussions centered on critical issues such as strengthening the blood supply, enhancing emergency preparedness, advancing research initiatives in transfusion medicine, and streamlining regulatory processes. Sign up for the 2025 Blood Advocacy Week June 9-13 here.
- We helped reduce licensure wait times to more quickly and safely establish new donor collection sites.
- We increased recognition of pre-hospital blood transfusions, including through CMS’s recognition of these transfusions as ALS2 procedures.
- We work for the introduction of legislation in the House of Representatives and Senate to improve end-of-life care by expanding access to palliative blood transfusions.
- We helped usher in a new era of blood donor eligibility, including partnering with GLAAD for the Summer of Giving campaign that supported the FDA changes
State Advocacy
We launched the Council of States to serve as a nerve center for our state-level advocacy efforts. Through rapid response initiatives and the collective work of our members, we:
- Defeated dangerous state-based bills that would have disrupted patient access to blood product and impose unnecessary and burdensome requirements on blood centers regarding directed donations and vaccination-labeling requirements.
- Secured an exclusion for “human blood collection and storage bags” as well as “apheresis and cell therapy blood kits and bags, including integral tubing” from DEHP legislation passed in California,
- Supported passage of a proposal that finally allows all FDA-registered blood banks, including community blood centers, to operate in Massachusetts.
Strategic Alliances
- We launched the Corporate Partner Council to engage industry in helping us meet the biggest challenges facing the blood community.
- We built stronger partnerships with key organizations, including HOSA Future Health Professionals, the Department of Veterans Affairs, and Johnson & Johnson. These collaborations resulted in an impressive 48% increase in blood donors from the previous year, bringing in over 37,000 new donors.
Global Collaboration
- Through ADRP: the Association for Blood Donor Professionals, we’re now connecting more than 1,140 members in 37 countries, fostering unprecedented global collaboration.
Looking Ahead
America’s Blood Centers remain unfaltering in our dedication to advancing and amplifying the vital contributions of community blood centers in ensuring the availability of a safe and available blood supply for all patients in need.
We extend our sincere gratitude to our members, strategic partners, allies, and donors for their invaluable contributions to our mission. Your ongoing support and dedication are the cornerstones of our success. Thank you for being part of this incredible work. We can’t wait to see what 2025 brings!