SAN DIEGO (Oct. 13, 2026) — For the tenth consecutive year, San Diego State University (SDSU) and the American Red Cross are teaming up to help hospital patients through the Aztecs for Life Blood Drive. The San Diego community is invited to join the Aztecs and CBS 8 on Thursday, November 19, from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. at Viejas Arena. The blood donations collected will help treat cancer patients, trauma victims, surgery patients and others requiring life-impacting blood transfusions.

Over the past nine years, the Aztecs community has donated 2,719 units of blood, helping provide lifesaving care for thousands of hospital patients. The 10th annual blood drive continues its legacy as the largest single-day collegiate blood drive in California, marking a decade of support for patients in need.

“Reaching the 10th Annual Aztecs for Life Blood Drive is an incredible milestone and a testament to the generosity and commitment of our Aztec community,” said Lisa Bynum, Senior Associate Athletic Director of Marketing and New Media, San Diego State University. “For a decade, SDSU has partnered with the Red Cross to help patients that need it most. Together, we’ve built a tradition that has collected thousands of units of blood and helped save countless lives."

The blood collected at this special blood drive will help ensure that the 130 Southern California hospitals that the Red Cross serves – including 20 San Diego hospitals – have the blood products that patients rely on.

"The 10th Annual Aztecs for Life Blood Drive is a powerful example of what can be achieved when community partners unite around a shared mission,” said Vanessa Van Mill, District Manager for American Red Cross Biomedical Services. “Through the dedication from SDSU, CBS 8 and generous blood donors, this event has become the largest single-day collegiate blood drive in California for the Red Cross and has helped meet the ongoing blood needs of hospital patients throughout our region. Together, we are creating hope and healing for those who need it most."

Appointments are recommended and can be made at GoAztecs.com/BloodDrive or by downloading the free Red Cross Blood Donor App, visiting RedCrossBlood.org, calling 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767) or enabling the Blood Donor Skill on any Alexa Echo device, and using sponsor code Aztecs.

Aztecs for Life Blood Drive
San Diego State University - Viejas Arena
Thursday, November 19
9 a.m. to 6 p.m.
5500 Canyon Crest Drive

As a thank-you, those who come to donate blood will receive an Aztecs t-shirt, coupons and additional giveaways from local businesses (while supplies last), a $10 Amazon Gift Card by email, 200 bonus points toward a-maze-ing Blood Donor Rewards, plus successful November 2026 donations will get free A1C testing. (*Terms and additional details can be found at RedCrossBlood.org/Maze.)

How to donate blood
All blood types are needed to ensure a reliable supply for patients. A blood donor card or driver’s license or two other forms of identification are required at check-in. Individuals who are 17 years of age in most states (16 with parental consent where allowed by state law), weigh at least 110 pounds and are in generally good health may be eligible to donate blood. High school students and other donors 18 years of age and younger also have to meet certain height and weight requirements.

Blood and platelet donors can save time at their next donation by using RapidPass® to complete their pre-donation reading and health history questionnaire online, on the day of their donation, before arriving at the blood drive. To get started, follow the instructions at RedCrossBlood.org/RapidPass or use the Blood Donor App.

About San Diego State University
San Diego State University is a major public research institution and an R1 university, as designated by Carnegie. SDSU provides transformative experiences for its more than 40,000 students. SDSU offers bachelor’s degrees in 97 areas, master’s degrees in 88 fields and 29 doctoral programs. SDSU ranks as the No. 1 California State University in federal research support, and as one of the top public research universities in California. In addition to academic offerings at SDSU, SDSU Imperial Valley and SDSU Georgia, SDSU Global Campus offers online training, certificates and degrees in areas of study designed to meet the needs of students everywhere. Students participate in transformational research, international experiences, sustainability and entrepreneurship initiatives, internships and mentoring, and a broad range of student life and leadership opportunities. SDSU is nationally recognized for its study abroad initiatives and global footprint, veterans’ programs and support of LGBTQIA+ students, as well as its powerhouse Division I Athletics Program. The university was most recently recognized as an Asian American Native American Pacific Islander-Serving Institution (AANAPISI), and is also a long-standing Hispanic-Serving Institution (HSI). The university’s rich campus life and location offer opportunities for students to lead and engage with the creative and performing arts, career and internship opportunities with SDSU’s more than 500,000 living alumni, and the vibrant cultural life of the greater San Diego and U.S.-Mexico region.

About the American Red Cross
The American Red Cross shelters, feeds and provides comfort to victims of disasters; supplies about 40% of the nation's blood; teaches skills that save lives; distributes international humanitarian aid; and supports veterans, military members and their families. The Red Cross is a nonprofit organization that depends on volunteers and the generosity of the American public to deliver its mission. For more information, please visit redcross.org/SoCal or cruzrojaamericana.org, or connect with the Southern California Region on X, Instagram, YouTube or Facebook.

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