75 Years of Community & Life
Words Deven Wilson | Photos from We Are Blood
Austinites today know a colorful bus, collectible t-shirts, and a catchy name, but when it started in 1951, there was only the Travis County Medical Society Blood Bank. In 2016, wanting to rebrand to something that would catch the eye and stay in the mind of both longtimers and newcomers, they became We Are Blood.
“It speaks to the family connection that comes with a community blood supply that’s here to serve everyone,” Nick Canedo, Vice President of Community Engagement, reflects on the name’s origin. We Are Blood’s brilliant look and focus on good design, brought in by local branding agency Butler, continues to defang fears around donations and fosters a welcoming vibe at its various donation centers and pop-ups across town. Nick continues, “It means that no matter how different we might feel, community blood supply is a shared resource that is contributed by individuals.”
We Are Blood is the sole provider of donations to over 50 hospitals, medical facilities and EMS agencies across ten counties in Central Texas. In 2026, to commemorate its 75th anniversary, We Are Blood will celebrate its strong relationship with its hospital partnerships, the individuals whose lives have been improved through donated blood, and, of course, the donors. Nick smiles, “2026 is going to be about celebrating Central Texas, celebrating We Are Blood and the community that we’ve been serving, and also the life-saving care that’s being delivered to patients.”
These celebrations will include gifts from local companies such as Alamo Drafthouse, Thundercloud Subs, and P. Terry’s, as well as revealing plans for the next 75 years, including new buses and donation centers. We Are Blood prides itself on making items for donors and will have a collection of t-shirts, sweaters and various swag commemorating the anniversary.
For those who will also want to help and participate in the celebrations but are hesitant to confront a needle, volunteer positions at donation centers and pop-ups are available, requiring minimal expertise. “There are so many different ways to give back,” Nick informs, talking about canteen volunteers who help donors recover, community outreach volunteers who attend public events spreading awareness, and even admin volunteers for those who want to help keep the offices running and life-saving blood flowing.
