December 22, 2008
St.
John’s University students and employees rolled up their sleeves
and gave more blood in 2008 than in any previous year. A
record-breaking 1,639 pints of lifesaving blood were collected at
the University’s Queens, Staten Island, Manhattan and Oakdale
campuses.
Photo Gallery
The blood drives concluded at the scenic Oakdale campus on
Saturday, December 6th and added 23 pints to the new annual record.
More than fifty percent of the personnel on campus that day donated
blood, thanks especially to the combined efforts of Danica
D’Ambrosio, Steven M. Rosenberg, Linda J. Faucetta, Linda Gonsalves
and Kevin Ryan.
Generous donors helped the University break the 1,000-pint mark for
the Queens campus in a first-ever Halloween-themed drive on October
30 and 31 in Council Hall decorated with ghosts, witches, vampires,
fog and fake blood. Some students turned out in full costume to
donate or volunteer. The spooky drive was co-sponsored by the
Physician’s Assistant Student Association, Muslim Students
Association, Indian Students Association, Spanish Honor Society and
the Lambda Phi Sorority.
The
final Queens Campus drive of 2008 was co-sponsored by the St.
John’s Gaelic Society, and Physicians Assistant Association on
November 19th and 20th.
The Staten Island campus also had a record-breaking year,
collecting 342 pints of blood under the direction of Margaret
Tierney, RN, Director of the Staten Island campus’ Office of Health
and Wellness.
Also, the Community Outreach Committee of the Student Bar
Association continued to sponsor blood drives in the St. John’s
School of Law collecting 79 pints in 2008.
“Drip,” the walking blood drop and official mascot of St. John’s
Blood Drives, also made regular appearances on campus throughout
the year and spread the word about the importance of giving
blood.
In commenting on the all-time record at the University, Vice
President for Community Relations Joseph Sciame said, “It’s a
crucial community service that our students and staff are
performing and part of a truly University-wide initiative.”
Mr. Sciame, a member of the NYBC Community Relations Council,
received the New York Blood Center Heroglobin Award for his efforts
this year.
Community Relations Associate Kevin Ryan, J.D. additionally
commented, “It’s a team effort and a beautiful expression of the
Vincentian Mission on each campus. This is who we are at St.
John’s.”
Sciame and Ryan co-chair the newly-formed University Blood Donation
Steering Committee, which is comprised of representatives from all
campuses.
Future blood drives are slated for the spring 2009 semester at each
campus, as well, kicking off with the Red Storm Athletics drive in
Carnesecca Arena on February 5, 2009.
“The need for blood typically increases sharply during and after
the holiday season, as donation generally declines across the
country,” said Carolyn Cestaro of New York Blood Center. “St.
John’s students will certainly continue respond to this need for
the precious gift of life again in
2009 and for that we are grateful”.
For more information on University blood drives, contact the Office
of Community Relations at 718-990-1941 or visit
www.stjohns.edu/blooddrives.
Interested media representatives can contact Dominic Scianna,
Assistant Vice President for Media Relations at St. John’s
University by calling (718) 990-6185 or e-mail inquiries to
sciannad@stjohns.edu.