Palm Beach Gardens, October 1 – As South Florida Blood Banks begins the difficult process of restoring the local blood supply severely depleted by the effects of four major hurricanes, a unique partnership with the Miami HEAT and the AmericanAirlines Arena was announced today in order to bring the blood supply back to pre-hurricane levels.

South Florida Blood Banks, like many other non-profit organizations suffered the loss of many days unable to operate due to the storm. Like many other businesses that were impacted financially, the blood bank also lost the ability to collect blood, critical to the 20 hospitals it serves.

Concerned with the severe loss this would have on the blood bank and local patients, the Miami HEAT and the AmericanAirlines Arena agreed to kick-off their new partnership three weeks ahead of schedule.

The program is aimed at educating the public on the importance of donating blood. Over the next year, the Miami HEAT and South Florida Blood Banks will be collaborating on a variety of exciting promotions that will reward those companies that schedule blood drives with South Florida Blood Banks. Miami HEAT players are currently taping PSA’s for South Florida Blood Banks that will air at basketball games and on bloodmobiles including the newly wrapped Miami HEAT bloodmobile operating out of the Blood Banks’ Miramar facility.

As part of the hurricane relief effort, beginning Friday, October 1st though Friday, October 8th , individuals who donate at any South Florida Blood Banks location will be entered to win one pair of suite tickets to watch Shaquille O’Neal and the Miami HEAT take on LeBron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers on Opening Night, Thursday, November 4 at the AmericanAirlines Arena. One pair of tickets will be drawn each day. “We care very much about our donors and felt that with the recent hurricanes and the effect they have had on our community, this would be an opportunity to do something nice for our blood donors,” said Trish Lowry, Executive Vice President & COO of South Florida Blood Banks.

South Florida Blood Banks has several convenient locations. The following branch locations are currently open. Please call 1-888-884-LIFE for hours at and for more information.

Port St. Lucie, 7275 US Highway 1
Directions: 1-95 to St. Lucie West Blvd., go east to US 1. The branch is on the northeast corner in the Prima Vista Crossings Shopping Center.

Jupiter, 75 East Indiantown Road
Directions: 1-95 to Indiantown Road, go east on Indiantown to Alt. A1A. The Branch is located In the Concourse Plaza (northeast corner of the intersection).

Northlake Boulevard (Headquarters), 3451 Northlake Boulevard
Directions: Two blocks east of 1-95 to MacArthur Boulevard, Turn north on MacArthur and use the side entrance on the left.

Lake Worth, 3123 Lake Worth Road
Directions: Corner of Congress & Lakeworth Road behind the Hess Station

Royal Palm Beach, 1224 Royal Palm Beach Blvd.
Directions: Take Okeechobee Blvd. west to Royal Palm Beach Blvd., the branch is located on the northeast corner in the Crossroads Plaza.

Delray Beach, 15076 Jog Road
Directions: Corner of Atlantic and Jog Road in the Home Depot Plaza

Boca Raton, 1880 North Dixie Highway
Directions: 1-95 to Glades Road, go east to Dixie Hwy and go north to 1880 North Dixie, located next to the Boca Raton Chamber of Commerce.

Miramar, 7901 Riviera Blvd.
Directions: Florida Turnpike to exit #47. Take the exit to University Drive, go straight through the light (you will be on Riviera Blvd.) one block to the Miramar Facility.

Bird Road, 6840 SW 40th Street
Directions: Take the Turnpike extension to SW 40th street (Bird Road), east to 67th Avenue, the branch is located in Ludlum Plaza, SW corner of Bird and 67th Avenue

South Florida Blood Banks has been saving lives in South Florida since 1948.
Its mission is to provide blood and blood services to the hospitals and patients it serves at the highest quality and lowest economic cost. This non-profit organization serves eight counties: Palm Beach, Broward, Miami-Dade, Martin, Glades, Okeechobee, St. Lucie, and Hendry, covering 10,000 square miles and a 5.5 million population base. The South Florida Blood Banks is the blood provider to 19 regional hospitals. Today, through its 250 dedicated employees, the Blood Bank distributes over 300,000 blood components collected in 11 branches and 18 mobile units, saving over 75,000 lives annually.
Call 1-888-884-LIFE or visit us on the web at www.sfbb.org