The New York Blood Center announced that it would hold combined blood and bone marrow drives across CUNY campuses at a press conference held at the Borough of Manhattan Community College earlier this month.
In addition to the conference, BMCC students, faculty and staff held a drive with nearly 110 blood donors and 50 bone marrow registrants, according to an article on 7thSpace Interactive Web.
According to CUNY Newswire, the drives will help "save the lives of patients in need of live-saving blood products and patients who are battling a life-threatening disease."
"BMCC community is well known for the generosity toward those in need, and we are proud to participate in The City of University/New York Blood Center's Blood and Marrow Drive," said BMCC President Antonio Perez in the CUNY Newswire release.
Jennifer Jones Austin, a mother and lawyer from Brooklyn, who became involved with the cause after being diagnosed with acute myeloid leukemia is known as the "face" of the initiative.
Attendees were urged to help save the lives of individuals like Austin, by registering with "Be the Match" Program, a national database of bone marrow donors.
"Thousands of people like me are searching for their donor match," said Austin in the press release. "By joining the Be The Match Registry you have a special opportunity to offer the gift of life to someone," said Austin in the press release.
At the press conference, Peter Grant Jordan, CUNY interim vice chancellor for student affairs, stressed the importance of contributing to the community.
"The uniqueness of CUNY's diverse student body becomes an invaluable asset to the New York City's blood supply," said Jordan. "It is of utmost importance to have a blood supply that mirrors the landscape of recipients, especially when a recipient requires a specific antigen that few possess, and CUNY students mirror New York's population."
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