New York Blood Center Announces Ticket Winner From "The World's Biggest Huddle"

She's Going to the Super Bowl!

NEW YORK, Jan. 27, 2014 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- New York Blood Center (NYBC) is wrapping up its eight-month partnership with the 2014 Super Bowl Host Committee, sending a blood donor to the big game this weekend with a pair of tickets. 

(Photo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20140127/DC53410) 

"More than a quarter of a million names were entered in the sweepstakes, representing everyone who donated blood with us from May 24 to January 17," said NYBC Executive Director of Donor Recruitment Andrea Cefarelli.  "An independent auditor chose Martha Fitzgerald – who donates at Young and Rubicam in New York City." 

"We've been proud to encourage blood donation with this campaign," said Alfred F. Kelly Jr., President & CEO of the 2014 New York/New Jersey Super Bowl Host Committee. "Giving the gift of life through a blood donation is critically important so we knew this would motivate everyone who is eligible to roll up their sleeves and give blood."  Mr. Kelly personally donated at New York Blood Center's headquarters on January 17, the last day of the sweepstakes eligibility period.

"Our community blood supply depends on thousands of volunteer donors each and every day," said New York Blood Center Vice President Rob Purvis. "Along with the knowledge that she's saving lives, we're thrilled that this civic-minded young woman will be going to the Super Bowl."

"I've given blood four times, because I know every donation helps hospital patients with cancer, leukemia, and those in emergency rooms after traffic accidents," said winner Martha Fitzgerald of Brooklyn.  "Who knew that I'd end up going to the Super Bowl?  I can't wait!"

To donate blood or for information on how to organize a blood drive
Visit: www.nybloodcenter.org

If you cannot donate but still wish to participate in bringing crucial blood products to patients in need, please ask someone to donate for you, or consider volunteering at a local blood drive. 

Any company, community organization, place of worship, or individual may host a blood drive. Blood donors receive free mini-medical exams on site including information about their temperature, blood pressure and hemocrit level. Eligible donors include those people at least age 16 (with parental permission or consent), who weigh a minimum of 110 pounds, are in good health and meet all Food & Drug Administration and NY or NJ State Department of Health donor criteria. People over 75 may donate with a doctor's note.

About the 2014 NY/NJ Super Bowl Host Committee

In an unprecedented decision by NFL team owners, the New York/New Jersey region was awarded the 2014 Super Bowl on May 25, 2010.

The New York and New Jersey region will provide visiting fans an unparalleled Super Bowl experience – complete with a multitude of exceptional venues, landmark destinations, and sightseeing and shopping opportunities. The area offers 40 Broadway theatres, 60 Off-Broadway theatres, more than 100 museums and nearly 1,700 public parks, as well as more than 18,000 restaurant choices and 275 world-class hotels with 100,000 hotel rooms, suitable for a wide range of tastes and budgets.

MetLife Stadium is the only stadium to serve as the home to two NFL teams, the New York Giants and New York Jets. As such, it is able to provide equal "home field advantage" to both competing teams, with two of everything – including locker rooms, training rooms, home team coaches booths, and premium in-game medical treatment facilities, as well as two full-practice training facilities, the Timex Performance Center and Atlantic Health Jets Training Center.

About New York Blood Center: New York Blood Center (NYBC) is one of the nation's largest non-profit, community-based blood centers. For 50 years, NYBC has been providing blood, transfusion products and services to hospitals serving more than 20 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

SOURCE New York Blood Center