NYBC, Donors Contribute Pints and Points
New York Blood Center (NYBC), serving New York City, Long Island, the Hudson Valley, and New Jersey, has provided a contribution of $76,250, and has joined the "Honor Roll of Life" of US blood centers providing units of blood directly to the Haiti relief effort.
Between January 25 and February 15, blood donors designated more than one million points earned in NYBC's Advantage donor loyalty program, which were then used to make a cash contribution to the U.S. Fund for UNICEF. More than $60,000 was raised from this initiative. In addition, NYBC contributed a dollar for each blood donation made between January 25 and January 31.
The devastating earthquake that struck Haiti on January 12 has impacted the lives of thousands of men, women and children, as well as NYBC employees. Donor specialists Marie-May Denis, Maryse Cherismo, Nadia Vilsaint and Karline Masse, who recently traveled to Haiti, were present for the check presentation to UNICEF on March 18 at the Long Island Blood Services Lake Success Donor Center.
NYBC is a member of a nationwide collective assisting the U.S. Armed Services Blood Program Office (ASBPO) handling the direct blood needs in Haiti. NYBC has provided 25 units to date, and may provide additional units if needed.
As many as 2,000 people donate blood each day at NYBC's facilities and mobile drives at workplaces, schools, community organizations and houses of worship. Current blood supplies remain adequate, but since blood has a relatively short shelf life, blood donors are being encouraged to help keep the system robust. Type O-negative and Rh-negative blood donors are especially needed.
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