Our Mission

Vitalant Foundation secures and stewards charitable gifts to support Vitalant’s mission to unite blood and biologics donors, talent, and innovation to save and improve lives. 

Blood Science Foundation History

Blood Science Foundation was incorporated as a tax-exempt 501(c)(3) organization in 1987. The Institute for Transfusion Medicine (ITxM). ITxM was also the parent company of Central Blood Bank and Lifesource serving the Pittsburgh and Chicago regions respectively with blood collection, testing, and distribution services. From 2008 to 2016, the Foundation granted contributions to tax-exempt organizations totaling approximately $25 million.

In 2017, Blood Science Foundation became an independent charity following the merger of ITxM with Blood Systems, Inc. In 2018, Blood Systems, Inc. was renamed Vitalant.

Board of Directors and Investment Committee Members

Nancy Gump Angus
Nancy Gump Angus
BSF Director
Terrence Bilkey
Terrence Bilkey
Investment Committee Member
Charles H. Bracken, Jr.
Charles H. Bracken, Jr.
BSF Director & Investment Committee Member
Sunny Chico
Sunny Chico
BSF & Vitalant Director, Investment Committee Member
James P. Covert
James P. Covert
BSF Director
Mark Giaquinto
Mark Giaquinto
BSF Director
Dr. Kathy Humphrey
BSF Director
Judy R. Murtha
Judy R. Murtha
BSF Director
Bob Ostrowski
Bob Ostrowski
BSF Director & Investment Committee Member
Roger Oxendale
Roger Oxendale
BSF Board Chairperson
James T. Schraith
James T. Schraith
BSF Director and Vitalant Vice Chairperson
Gayle Tissue
Gayle Tissue
BSF Director
Anne Wickland
Anne Wickland
Investment Committee Chairperson
Russ York
Russ York
BSF Director

Blood Science Foundation Staff

Mark Giaquinto
Jill Chamblin

Vitalant is the nation’s largest independent, nonprofit blood services provider exclusively focused on providing lifesaving blood and comprehensive transfusion medicine services for about 900 hospitals and their patients across the U.S. Every day, Vitalant needs to collect about 5,500 blood and platelet donations to help save lives. For more information and to schedule a donation appointment, visit vitalant.org or call 877-25-VITAL (877-258-4825). Follow Vitalant on FacebookTwitter, and Instagram.

Vitalant is a founding member of the American Association of Blood Banks (AABB), a professional organization that provides standards of development and accreditation for blood centers. Vitalant was also a driving force in the creation of America’s Blood Centers, a consortium of independent community blood centers throughout the U.S. and Canada.

Who Needs Blood?

Donated blood is used in the most critical areas of our healthcare system. From trauma to transplant procedures to cancer care, blood is an absolute necessity. Almost everyone will require a blood transfusion to survive at some point in their life.

rare blood disorders
rare blood disorders
transplant recipients
transplant recipients
those battling cancer
survivors of violence
natural disaster survivors
natural disaster survivors
patients undergoing major surgery
patients undergoing major surgery
survivors of violence
those battling cancer
car accidents
car accidents

The life you save may be yours someday.
Pledge your financial support today.

Ways to Give