STBTC Opens Newest Blood Donation Center in North San Antonio
Summer blood collections launch with Spurs shirt for all donors during playoffs

 SAN ANTONIO (May 23, 2008) – The South Texas Blood and Tissue Center (STBTC) celebrated the opening of their newest donor room at 4079 N. Loop 1604 today and jumpstarted summer efforts to recruit blood donors. Commissioner Lyle Larson, San Antonio City Council District 9 Chief of Staff Kyle Whatley, representatives of the Greater San Antonio Chamber of Commerce and center staff were on hand for the ribbon cutting, along with recipient Arden Cantwell and her mom Kim, who spoke about the gift donors provide their family with each donation.

“This new donation center, which isn’t too far from our home in north central San Antonio, is a wonderful structural reminder of all you do....,” Kim Cantwell said. “Blood donors are heroes to our family, and we can’t begin to thank them enough.”

The Shavano Park Donor Room is the seventh donation center in the region, including the Center’s satellite office in Victoria. Officials announced the eighth donation center to open later this summer, along with the grand opening of a new donor pavilion at the Center’s headquarters location on IH-10.

“The summer season is a critical time to maintain a balance between blood donations and blood transfusions in area hospitals,” explained Norman D. Kalmin, MD, President/CEO and Medical Director of STBTC. “The development of this donation facility and others like it, which we are opening throughout South Texas, is part of our effort to make life-saving donations more convenient for the community.”

To mark the new donation center and celebrate the Spurs Western Conference playoff series, STBTC is providing donors with a “Say it Louder: Go Spurs Go” T-shirt while supplies last. All sites will be supplied with this special promotion item. To be eligible to donate blood you must be 17 years of age, at least 110 pounds and in general good health.