April 11, 2012
St. John’s Office of Community Relations held a luncheon on Monday,
March 26th honoring the top 25 blood donors at the
university. These individual contributions over the years have
totaled more than 1,500 pints or 180 gallons of blood, assisting
4,500 to 6,000 people
whose lives may have been saved with the “Gift of Life.” According
to the New York Blood Center (NYBC), this is a most notable amount
of blood to have saved lives in the NYC Metropolitan
Area.
The honorees were from a diverse group of University
administrators, former professors, students and staff. Joseph Sciame,Vice President for
Community Relations and Joe Ferrara, Account Manager for the NYBC
presented the honorees with individual “Awards of Appreciation” in
recognition of their service as dedicated blood donors.
Some of
those being honored included: William Emmel, 36 gallons donated;
Roger So, 22 gallons donated; John Konesci, 20 gallons donated;
William Malone, 11 gallons donated; Marge Cashin, 7 gallons donated
and Mary Kay Sarosy, 5 gallons donated. When asked why they have
continued to donate through all the years, Mr. Malone stated: “The bottom line is that it
makes you feel good to know that you have helped save a life.”
In saluting the
contributions of the University community at such high levels of
blood, Mr. Sciame remarked: “Our small luncheon recognition, of
such a major contribution to the lives of so many, affords us an
opportunity to show what a difference St. John’s University does
make to the wider community. And, as always, this is a
learning experience for our students, who continue to contribute at
high levels as well during their respective courses of
enrollment.”
Each pint donated goes on
to save three to four lives. In response to the need for blood and
the importance of donating, St. John's sponsors blood drives on all
of its New York campuses: Queens, Staten Island, Manhattan and
Oakdale. The NYBC operates in New York City, Long Island, Hudson
Valley and New Jersey. These priceless ‘gifts of life’ go to the
200 hospitals that are served by NYBC and to people counting on
generous volunteer blood donations not only from these top donors
but from as many people as possible.
For more information on
St. John's University blood drives, call Paul Lazauskas, Associate
Director, Office of Community Relations at 718-990-1941.