President's Message

MIAMI/ORLANDO/ST. PETERSBURG-  (July 25, 2011)

The Boards of Directors for three of Florida’s independent, not-for-profit blood banks, Community Blood Centers of Florida, Inc. (CBCF), Florida’s Blood Centers,  Inc. (FBC) and Florida Blood Services, Inc. (FBS) have voted to merge.

While agreement from all three boards was the next necessary step in the process, there is still much work to be done before a merger can become reality. The comprehensive internal due-diligence process that has been underway since November 2010 will continue and soon the process of seeking certain third party approvals necessary for the merger will begin.

It is anticipated that the merger will be final in the beginning of next year.  Announcements regarding organizational structure, board governance and a new name for the merged organization will be coordinated over the next several months.  In the meantime, the three blood centers will continue their separate operations without interruptions in service and will deliver the high quality services for which they are known. 

The three entities currently serve a territory encompassing the Tampa Bay area, South and Southeast Florida, the Orlando Metro area and surrounding Central Florida counties, parts of Southwest Florida, Pensacola and Tallahassee and also some parts of Southern Georgia and Alabama.

The three entities combined currently serve more than 200 hospitals and health facilities and employ approximately 2,700 professionals.

A merger will benefit the communities the blood centers serve and will allow them to more effectively and efficiently fulfill their lifesaving mission of providing safe, available and affordable blood to their hospital partners and their patients.

Respectfully,



Mike Pratt
Chief Operating Officer and Interim CEO