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
Blood Science Foundation Staff
Since 2017, Mr. Giaquinto has held several key roles within Vitalant Foundation’s operations including, President, Chief Financial Officer, and Treasurer. From 2009-2017 he served as the foundation’s Secretary/Treasurer while also holding the position of Chief Financial Officer and Secretary/Treasurer at The Institute for Transfusion Medicine and all of its subsidiaries. Mr. Giaquinto has been a member of the Ronald McDonald House Board of Directors in Pittsburgh for 11 years, serving as President of the Board for four of those years. Prior to his time at Vitalant Foundation, he served as Chief Financial Officer of the Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh and its foundation. Mr. Giaquinto obtained his Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration/Accounting from Duquesne University.
Ms. Boughner joined Vitalant Foundation as Director of Development in 2020. Since 1998, she has built a successful fundraising career in the nonprofit sector, working with/for a variety of organizations, from human services to the arts to independent and higher education. Aside from ensuring a safe and ample blood supply, Ms. Boughner's charitable interests include the arts, cutting-edge research/technology applications for people with type-1 diabetes (T1D), education, the advancement of women and girls, and building strong communities. She has served as a mentor through Be A Sixth Grade Mentor and Big Brothers Big Sisters of Western Pennsylvania as well as serving on the Mayor's Advisory Committee for the Borough of Munhall. Ms. Boughner obtained her Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from Carnegie Mellon University.
Ms. Butters joined the Vitalant Foundation as Director of Development for the West Division in 2022. She has dedicated her career evenly between furthering the missions of various nonprofit organizations and helping individuals reach their education and career goals. Ms. Butters has enjoyed 15 years as a fundraising professional with The Salvation Army. She led the Major Gifts team of fundraisers for 10 years and was then promoted to Director of Development. Servicing Northern Nevada and Northern California, she expertly led her team of 20 development professionals through the challenges of fundraising during recurrent wildfires and the COVID-19 pandemic. She obtained a Bachelor of Arts degree in Behavioral Sciences from National University.
Ms. Chamblin joined Vitalant Foundation in 2021 as Director of Development for Vitalant’s Southwest Division. Her experience includes over 30 years of fundraising expertise, mainly focused within the healthcare industry. Ms. Chamblin spent 16 years as Director of Major Gifts for the American Cancer Society where she implemented various fundraising strategies, including raising capital funds to build the first ACS Hope Lodge in the west, providing free lodging for patients. More recently, she held the position of Regional Philanthropic Relations Officer, Individual Giving for the Susan G. Komen National office. She obtained her Bachelor of Science degree from Illinois State University and her Master of Arts degree from the University of Nevada at Reno.
Mr. Crowe joined Vitalant Foundation in 2022 as Director of Development for Vitalant’s Mountain Division. Over the past 35 years, he has led local, national and international nonprofits to raise over $1 billion, including American National Red Cross, American Leprosy Missions, Project Hope, Rock n’ Roll Hall of Fame, Front Range Community College and Daniels College of Business. He has developed and led high performance teams for small, medium and large nonprofit operations with up to 50 professionals, more than 5,000 volunteers and $5 million in annual operating budgets. Mr. Crowe has also led over 300 nonprofit leadership and fundraising workshops and trainings. He an active volunteer with his church, community, Scouts BSA, the Denver Voice, and many other local causes. He received his Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration from Southern Wesleyan University.
Ms. Miscampbell has held the role of Director of Operations for Vitalant Foundation since 2017. She has worked for more than 25 years in the healthcare industry, including positions with AstraZeneca, her family’s medical supply business, Central Blood Bank and Institute for Transfusion Medicine (ITxM). Ms. Miscampbell obtained her dual Bachelor of Arts degrees (German and International Studies) from Millersville University of Pennsylvania.
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 Facebook, Twitter, 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.
The life you save may be yours someday.
Pledge your financial support today.
