February 08, 2012
St.
John's blood donor campaigns in 2011 resulted in a total of 1,164
pints of blood donated, making the Vincentian University one of the
most successful among colleges and universities in New York City
this past year, according to the New York Blood Center
(NYBC). Each pint of blood collected is estimated to save
three to four lives.
St. John’s University was acknowledged for this ongoing
achievement, along with those of the NYPD and FDNY, at a meeting of
New York Blood Center’s Community Relations Advisory Council in the
fall of 2011. NYBC operates in New York City, Long Island,
Hudson Valley and New Jersey. These priceless ‘gifts of life’ to
the 200 hospitals that are served by NYBS go to people counting on
generous volunteer blood donations.
In the spring of 2011, St. John’s received the Platinum award (for
the second time), following in the footsteps of prior years when
the University also received the Diamond award for its successful
accomplishments.
NYBC continues to stress the emergency need for blood across the
region, as it maintains an emergency appeal to all blood donors.
Blood cannot be synthesized and must be donated, which makes
shortages a critical problem for hospitals and emergency rooms
everywhere. NYBC normally maintains a Reserve Bank large
enough to support regional hospitals for five days, but the
shortage has dropped the reserves down to a two-day supply.
In
response to the blood shortage, St. John's University took action
with its first blood drive of 109 pints for the spring semester,
and was proactive with its Annual Athletics Blood Drive on February
2, 2012 in the famed Carnesecca Arena, home of the Red Storm.
Students, staff and neighbors stepped onto the basketball court,
named for legendary St. John’s Hall of Fame Coach Lou Carnesecca,
and gave the gift of life from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m.
St. John's sponsors blood drives on all of its New York campuses:
Queens, Staten Island, Manhattan and Oakdale. Joseph Sciame, Vice
President for Community Relations and Paul Lazauskas, Associate
Director of Community Relations, are both co-chairs of the
University’s Blood Donation Committee, spearheading University
blood collection efforts, with Marge Tierney, Director, Health
& Wellness Programs, Staten Island campus, who also assists
with program initiatives.
“We are all so very proud of this outstanding achievement in blood
donation, and our University-wide efforts at all campuses prove
that we live the spirit of giving in true Vincentian spirit of
giving and service. What a great honor for the University to reach
such high goals in terms of blood donation,” Sciame said.
For more information on St. John's University blood drives, call
Paul Lazauskas, University Office of Community Relations at
718-990-1941.