Blood Donors Save Lives to Honor 11th Anniversary of 9/11

NEW YORK, Sept. 7, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- As the 11^th Anniversary of September 11 approaches, New York Blood Center (NYBC) honors the many dedicated donors who gave the gift of life immediately following the terrorist attacks -- and each and every day since. 

"After the overwhelming outpouring of support we received 11 years ago, we erected a plaque outside our Manhattan headquarters to honor everyone who helped," said NYBC Vice President Rob Purvis.  "But what's so critical for us to remember is that blood donors are needed not just after incidents like 9-11, but each and every day to treat patients at our 200 partner hospitals."

Visitors to NYBC's Manhattan headquarters notice the three brass footprints in the sidewalk, and the plaque which reads:

In remembrance,
and in celebration of the spirit of community,
may these footprints forever honor
the many volunteers who tirelessly waited
in person and in spirit
to give of themselves in response to the needs
of the victims of September 11, 2001.

This plaque goes on to remind us that NYBC and its selfless donors are front and center, not only during times of crisis, but at ALL times:

And let them serve as a symbol of our selfless volunteers
who donate blood every day of the year
on behalf of our entire community.

"We'll all be taking a moment on September 11 to reflect on the thousands of lives we've saved because of the selfless generosity of our donors," says NYBC's Rob Purvis, "And our heartfelt dedication to serving our neighbors now and in the future."

To donate blood or for information on how to organize a blood drive (especially during September)
Please call Toll Free: 1-800-933-2566
Visit: www.nybloodcenter.org

If you cannot donate but still wish to participate in bringing crucial blood products to patients in need, please ask someone to donate for you, or consider volunteering at a local blood drive.

Any company, community organization, place of worship, or individual may host a blood drive. NYBC also offers special community service scholarships for students who organize community blood drives during summer and winter months. Blood donors receive free mini-medical exams on site including information about their temperature, blood pressure and hematocrit level. Eligible donors include those people at least age 16 (with parental permission or consent), who weigh a minimum of 110 pounds, are in good health and meet all Food & Drug Administration and NY or NJ State Department of Health donor criteria. People over 75 may donate with a doctor's note.

About New York Blood Center: New York Blood Center (NYBC) is one of the nation's largest non-profit, community-based blood centers. For fifty years, NYBC has been providing blood, transfusion products and services to hospitals serving more than 20 million people in New York City, Long Island, the Hudson Valley, New Jersey, and parts of Connecticut and Pennsylvania. NYBC is also home to the Lindsley F. Kimball Research Institute and the National Cord Blood Program at the Howard P. Milstein National Cord Blood Center, the world's largest public cord blood bank. NYBC provides medical services and programs (Clinical, Transfusion, and Hemophilia Services) through our medical professionals along with consultative services in transfusion medicine. Please visit us on Facebook at www.Facebook.com/newyorkbloodcenter. Follow us on Twitter: @NY_BloodCenter.

SOURCE New York Blood Center