Lions Club of Madras Egmore accepted this challenging task of organizing and successfully administering a Blood Bank. The need then was mobilization of voluntary donors by sensitizing the community and offers a centrally located center and congenial ambiance for blood donation. The outcome of their efforts is today our pride - "Lions Blood Bank & Research Foundation" - a standing monument of peoples' initiative and sustained efforts to solve a problem.

This prestigious project was commissioned in June 1984 during the gubernatorial year of Lion Dr R Rabindranath and inaugurated by the then Health Minister, Government of Madras, Lion Dr H V Hande. Nobel Laureate Mother Teresa visited the Blood Bank on March 3, 1985 and blessed the project while appreciating the move to help “God's People”. Past Lions District Governor Lion T.J. George, the Charter President of the Lions Club of Madras Egmore was the Founder Chairman.

Originally the Blood Bank was housed in a building constructed for this purpose at "Asha Nivas", No 9 Rutland Gate, Madras 600 006. Since they wanted the building for expansion of their own activities and offered to reimburse the amount invested by us, we purchased an apartment at No 11 Halls Road, Kilpauk, Madras 600010 in the year 1987. Due to inadequate space for modernization of the Blood Bank, we have moved to the present location at No 130 Marshalls Road, Egmore, Chennai 600008 in September 1999 under lease agreement. Our wish is to move to a more spacious building of our own so as to carry on with all our expanding activities.

This Project, a Public Charitable Trust and an integral part of the Lions Club International - the largest and most vibrant service organization in the world, receives support from over 170 Lions / Lioness / Leo Clubs with a membership of over 6000 committed citizens who are actively involved in this Life Saving Project. This was the first licensed Blood Bank in the entire State of Madras. The Blood Bank conforms to all the mandatory regulations laid down by the Drugs & Cosmetics Act, 1940 and the Drugs & Cosmetics Rules, 1945. It also has the distinction of being the first project in the Lions District 324-A1 of the Lions Clubs International to receive a standard grant from the Lions Club International Foundation to the tune of US $ 28,000. About 90% of the Clubs in the District have generously contributed to this project and continue to support with donations and by motivating voluntary donors to come and donate blood. It was a response to a need that has no substitute, even today.

The blood bank processes around 18,000 units per annum, collected only from voluntary blood donors. It maintains a high standard of blood banking procedures to ensure the issue of safe and quality blood and its components to the needy and also free of the processing charges to the poor. Over 200 hospitals / nursing homes regularly requisition their need for blood and components from this premier Blood Bank – a sign of total acceptance and trust from the medical profession. Over 17,000 units of blood and components are issued every year by this Blood Bank.

From a humble beginning it made in 1983 and with the untiring and zealous approach of many philanthropists, today, it has made a remarkable progress and has carved a niche among the hospitals and the medical practitioners for supply of quality products. This project has invested about Rs 1 Crore for its expansion program for production of blood components during the period 1998-1999. The Tamil Nadu State AIDS Control Society provides HIV test kits worth over Rs 2 lakhs per annum, Free of Charge. The National AIDS Control Organization has extended a grant of cold chain equipment worth over Rs 4 lakhs. This project has been permitted by the Govt of India to receive foreign contributions under FCRA. The Indian Oil Corporation has donated Rs 1 lakh for purchase of additional blood storage facility. 100% income tax exemption has been accorded by the Govt of India under Sec 35 AC of the Income Tax Act, 1961.

The Blood Bank aims to sustain the efforts for structured progress towards obliterating the gap between demand and supply through organizing voluntary donor banks - GOLD (Gift of Life Donors) club membership, shortening the response time by effective networking of Blood Banks, donor organizations and hospitals through a Toll Free call center ultimately extending facilities like satellite blood centers so that blood reaches even the people working in the fields.