Friends and family of the late Dante Giancarlo Longo hosted the sixth memorial blood drive on Sunday to honor the life of the former California State University San Marcos soccer player.
The South Bay native died in 2022 at 24 years old, and was known not only for his “athletic talent and infectious field presence, but also for his unmatched strength, resilience, and determination,” a statement from the American Red Cross read.
The American Red Cross blood drive will be held from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Springhill Suites by Marriott Chula Vista/Eastlake, 870 District Place.
After surviving a car accident and coma in 2018, he made a return to the pitch. This led to the creation of the Dante Longo Iron Cougar Award, now presented annually to the toughest player on the CSUSM men’s soccer team.
“Dante’s story reminds us of what it means to fight, to overcome, and to give back,” said Kimberly, Longo’s mother. “This blood drive is a way for our community to carry forward his legacy in the most meaningful way.”
Longo received CSUSM’s Most Inspirational Player and Best Newcomer awards in 2017-2018. He created Longo Strong Fitness in the early days of his recovery, reestablished as the Longo Strong Foundation, a nonprofit created to “promote physical fitness and activity, mental resilience, and community wellness for free,” a statement reads.
