Columbia University was honored as one of the New York Blood Center (NYBC) winners of the 2019 New York Mets College Blood Donor Championships! The University partners with the New York Blood Center in hosting life-saving blood drives across the various campuses during spring, fall, Black History Month, summer and new student orientation. The blood drives are a part of numerous Campus Initiatives organized by the Office of Government and Community Affairs (GCA) and coordinated by Junior Benjamin, Assistant Director Campus Initiatives, Community Relations and Finance.
On Tuesday, April 30, 2019 Columbia University was one of four area colleges to be honored at on the field at home plate, in a ceremony that took place place prior to the opening pitch of the New York Mets vs. Cincinnati Reds game at CitiField. Columbia University contributed 891 lifesaving blood donations to the community blood supply in the current school year (tallied from summer 2018 through April 16, 2019). This did not include the very successful spring blood drive that added an additional 248 donations.
The New York Blood Center is looking to reverse a significant downward decline in blood donors over the last ten years. New data showed the number of red blood cell donors has dropped from 270,501 in 2015 to 185,856 in 2019, marking a 31 percent decrease. The NYBC tries to maintain a seven-day reserve to ensure all patients and hospitals can access the blood they need. Right now, blood supplies have reached critical lows, with all blood types dipping well below a seven-day reserve, including a one- to two-day supply of O- and B-. Columbia University proudly contribute to efforts to increase the number of blood donations and help replenish the region’s blood supply.
Learn more about the blood drives and other initiatives by visiting the Campus Initiatives page on the GCA Website.
