Jennifer Jones Austin, Civic Leader and Executive, Joins New York Blood Center Board

NEW YORK, June 13, 2013 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- New York Blood Center (NYBC) announced today that Jennifer Jones Austin, CEO and Executive Director of the Federation of Protestant Welfare Agencies, has been elected to the Board of Trustees. Ms. Jones Austin has 20 years of leadership experience working for the advancement of underserved children, individuals and families.

(Photo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20130613/DC32106 )

Ms. Jones Austin also brings a unique patient perspective to the NYBC. In 2009, she was diagnosed with Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML) and began her search for a bone marrow donor. The following year, with the support of the NYBC, she was able to find a suitable cord blood match. Leading up to and following her transplant, Ms. Jones Austin received numerous blood and platelet transfusions.

Howard P. Milstein, Chairman of the Board of the New York Blood Center said, "We are honored to have Jennifer join our Board. In addition to her valuable business, management and community service background, she comes to us with the perspective that only someone who has gone through leukemia and a stem cell transplant can bring."

Ms. Jones Austin's experience in both the nonprofit and public sectors will bring important strengths to the New York Blood Center Board.  The Federation of Protestant Welfare Agencies has been a prominent force in New York City's social service system for 90 years, meeting the needs of New Yorkers and supporting the agencies that deliver human services. Previously, Ms. Jones Austin was the Senior Vice President of Community Investment for United Way of New York City, where she was responsible for providing vision and leadership in leveraging human and financial resources towards making measurable progress in solving complex health and human services problems.  Before joining the United Way, Ms. Jones Austin served as the first Family Services Coordinator of the City of New York, a position to which she was appointed by Mayor Bloomberg in 2006 after four years as Deputy Commissioner for the City's Administration for Children's Services.  In addition, Ms. Jones Austin served as the Civil Rights Deputy Bureau Chief in the Office of the NYS Attorney General Eliot Spritzer and as Vice President for LearnNow/Edison Schools Inc. 

NYBC, which provides lifesaving blood transfusion products and medical services to Greater New York's 22 million residents, also operates the world's largest public cord blood bank and a significant medical research institute

"Jennifer is an outstanding and incredibly accomplished person.  In addition, she has first-hand knowledge – as a patient – of the vital services New York Blood Center provides within the community," said NYBC President and CEO Christopher D. Hillyer, MD.  "Her recovery has been amazing and she is thriving.  We feel incredibly fortunate to bring her perspective to our Board."

Ms. Austin has committed herself to giving back to the community that served her well in her time of need. She is currently on the board of the National Bone Marrow Program (NMDP) and serves as one of its national spokespersons.

Ms. Jones Austin received her bachelor's degree from Rutgers University, a law degree from Fordham University Law School, and a Master's Degree in Management and Policy from New York University.  She is a member of the New York and New Jersey bars.  She lives in Brooklyn with her husband and two children.

Ms. Jones Austin joins Mr. Milstein and the following Trustees on NYBC's Board: Dr. Andrew Bodnar, William W. Crouse, Harriet Edelman, Dr. Owen Garrick, Dr. Laurie H. Glimcher, Dr. Christopher Hillyer, Dr. Michael W. Hodin, Marc Kramer, Aaron R. Marcu, Michelle Miao, John R. Mullen, Robert A. Schwartz, Nicholas Scoppetta, Howard Sloan, David Tendler, and John Zuccotti.

About New York Blood Center: New York Blood Center (NYBC) is one of the nation's largest non-profit, community-based blood centers. For almost 50 years, NYBC has been providing blood, transfusion products and services to hospitals serving more than 22 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.  Website: www.nybloodcenter.org

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Contact: Hope Kaplan (212) 843-8070

SOURCE New York Blood Center