Our Story:
A Seven-Decade Tradition of Caring for Our Community
On Valentine’s Day, February 14, 1949, O.K. Fike and Dr. Millard White founded the Lower West Coast Blood Bank and planted the seeds of a humanitarian idea that would blossom over generations. Now, for more than 70 years, tens of thousands of dedicated volunteers, just like you, have helped to provide the critical lifesaving gift of blood to our local hospitals and patients.
Now known as SunCoast Blood Centers, we continue to address challenges by providing our donors with state-of-the-art collection and testing instruments and serving local patients in need with a reliable and safe source of blood products and services. What began with 551 units of blood collected in 1949, we now hold more than 1,000 blood drives and achieve more than 40,000 units of blood annually. The success of this organization has relied entirely on the generosity of its loyal donors.
Thank you for your continued support of our lifesaving mission.
Our Mission
We are privileged to bring people together to save lives through innovative blood services and therapies.
Our Vision
Be recognized as an industry leader and the “go-to” partner for blood-related healthcare services.
Our Values
Operate with integrity, commit to each other and the community, exceed the expectations of those we serve, and embrace innovation.
Who We Serve
Our mission is to serve YOU and others in our community by ensuring a safe, adequate supply of blood products, including pathogen-reduced platelets, and services for a range of local hospitals, healthcare facilities, and cancer patients.
And since 2020, our partnership with the U.S. Military has mobilized our local donation centers to send regular shipments of red cells (O-positive and O-negative) to our service members who need them most at home and across the globe. At SunCoast Blood Centers, taking care of our soldiers, families, and the community that supports us is an integral part of who we are and what we do.
We are also a founding partner in the nation’s first Blood Emergency Readiness Corps (BERC). A first response network that provides blood to areas impacted by natural disasters or mass casualty events such as mass-shootings and major accidents.
Our Leadership Team
Board of Directors
L-R: Jamey Dodson, Treasurer; Ben Hatcher, VP & Assistant Treasurer; Steve Branham, Immediate Past President; Teresa Koncick, President & Board Chair; Scott Bush, CEO; Caroline Strickland, Member; Dr. Miguel Pelayo, Member (Not pictured: Kristine Russell, Member)
Executive Team
L-R: Chris Ebert, VP of Information Technology; Michelle Moyer, Production Manufacturing Manager; Evelyn Oyler, Technical Director; Lisa Zachary, Director of Donor Services; John Hall, Chief Operating Officer; Scott Bush, Chief Executive Officer; Katie Chiaro, Chief Financial Officer; Marsha Lanier, Executive Assistant; Steve Malavé, Director of Community Relations (Not pictured: Rob Harper, VP of Quality Assurance; Carrie Kilgroe, Director of Recruitment Services; Pam Foster, Development Officer)