What’s In a Name?

Travis County Medical Society Blood Bank was a nonprofit organization founded in September 24, 1951 as the first nonprofit blood bank serving the greater Austin area. The Travis County Medical Society founded us with a mission that remains strong today: to serve and protect the Central Texas blood supply. Initially, we served four Austin hospitals – Brackenridge, Seton, Holy Cross, and St. David’s – along with a few rural hospitals in the surrounding areas. In the 1970s, we made moves! We relocated to our current building on North Lamar and adopted a new name, “Central Texas Regional Blood Center.” Additionally, we expanded our reach to 10 counties, which we continue to serve today.

Over the next few decades, we grew to over 100 employees, implemented a new computer system, expanded our North Lamar donor center, and added more brick and mortar locations. Before adopting our current name, we underwent one more name change in 2000, “The Blood and Tissue Center of Central Texas.” While these previous names effectively captured the organization’s purpose, they lacked the essence of who we are.

Why We Are Blood?

We are who we are because of the people of Central Texas – our neighbors, friends, and family.

Our staff, volunteers, and donors come from diverse backgrounds, yet we are all united. Like family, each of us plays an important role in ensuring our mission is fulfilled. We donate and draw blood, coordinate blood drives, support first responders, work in and with hospitals, volunteer our time, and some of us even have loved ones who are recipients of blood.

Blood connections run deep. When you call someone “blood,” it’s another way to call that person “family.” This colloquialism stuck with us and was part of the inspiration for our name today, We Are Blood. Regardless of the roles we play, our common bond through it all is protecting the community blood supply and saving lives locally.

Central Texas is home. As we continue to grow and flourish with the community, we remain steadfast to our mission. As the nonprofit blood center, we proudly and exclusively serve over 50 hospitals, medical facilities, and agencies in our 10-county area.

We are all Central Texans, coming together to support our community and one another. We are family. We Are Blood.