Meet Eliseo

In 2002, Eliseo Zepeda began donating blood when his Oakland Raiders Booster Club partnered with former Raiders coach Tom Flores to host Raider Nation blood drives. As President of the club for the past 29 years, he helped grow the effort into a longstanding tradition, hosting multiple blood drives each year and encouraging others to give back. What began as a way to support his community quickly became a cause that was deeply personal and meaningful to him.

In 2016, while preparing for an upcoming blood drive, Eliseo was asked if he would consider donating platelets for cancer patients. The request struck a chord after he had witnessed a young neighbor lose his battle with leukemia, an experience that left a lasting impact on him and showed him the unimaginable challenges families face during a child’s illness. Determined to make a difference, he made his first platelet donation on September 23, 2016, and has remained committed ever since. In April 2026, he reached an incredible milestone of 200 platelet donations, with the majority being triple platelet donations that can help multiple patients in need.

For nearly 25 years, Eliseo has continued leading Raider Nation blood drives while dedicating himself to regular platelet donations. He takes great pride in knowing that blood cannot be manufactured and that every donation has the power to give someone more time, more hope, and another chance at life. Over the years, Central California Blood Center has become like family to him, and the friendships he has built have strengthened his commitment to serving others. As long as he is healthy and able, Eliseo plans to continue donating, leading by example, and working toward his goal of reaching 300 platelet donations.