Tim, a dedicated teen participant of First Tee – Greater San Antonio and the First Tee National Innovators Forum, turned inspiration into action by hosting a life-changing blood drive in partnership with the South Texas Blood & Tissue Center.
Through the First Tee Innovators Forum, teens are empowered to develop service projects that create meaningful change in their communities. Inspired by a fellow participant who had organized a successful blood drive, Tim shifted his original project idea and chose to focus on saving lives. As Tim shared, “Knowing my efforts in putting this blood drive together can help save lives really helped inspire me in my choice of my project.”
The blood drive also marked an important milestone for First Tee – Greater San Antonio, serving as the organization’s first blood drive since December 28, 2020. With 23 community members signed up to donate, the drive exceeded its goal of 18 units by collecting 20 whole blood donations, reaching 111% of goal. Each whole blood donation includes red blood cells, platelets, and plasma, and can save up to three lives, supporting trauma patients, cancer treatments, mothers and newborns, and more. In total, the drive has the potential to impact up to 60 lives.
A key partner in the effort, South Texas Blood & Tissue Center is a nonprofit community blood center that provides blood, plasma, platelets, and other lifesaving components to more than 100 hospitals across 48 South Texas counties. For more than 50 years, the organization has evolved to meet patient and hospital needs with a mission centered on saving and enhancing lives. Tim’s project directly contributed to that mission.
Tim credits First Tee – Greater San Antonio for helping bring the project to life. “I wouldn’t have a location if Ms. Carrie Kimbell hadn’t graciously let me host it at the First Tee. Coach Steve Lennon has been an amazing encourager, helping me with both minor and major details of the blood drive. The First Tee has helped me be more confident in myself and my skills. I wouldn’t be able to tackle this project without their support.”
Beyond the numbers, the blood drive reflects the leadership, empathy, and service at the heart of First Tee. Through one teen’s vision and the support of an engaged community, this project became more than a blood drive. It became a powerful example of young people creating real impact.
Reflecting on the experience, Tim shared, “Meeting people from across the country from different First Tees was so fun. The Innovators Forum was my highlight of 2025, and I cannot wait to represent First Tee – Greater San Antonio again.”
