New York Blood Center Donors Get More Advantages

Two New Web Sites, New Points Policy Offer Greater Rewards

NEW YORK, April 7, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- New York Blood Center (NYBC), serving more than 20 million people in New York City, Long Island, the Hudson Valley, New Jersey, and parts of Connecticut and Pennsylvania, has re-launched two of its web sites newly designed to be more user friendly, and announced an enhancement to its Donor Advantage Program to recognize and reward frequent blood donors.

New York Blood Center's primary web site at www.nybloodcenter.org is now redesigned to offer visitors a "one spot click" for blood donation information and appointments, charitable giving in support of NYBC's life saving mission, and community volunteerism.

Also newly designed is New York Blood Center's Donor Advantage Program web site at www.mydonoradvantage.com.  Tens of thousands of blood and platelet donors have benefitted from NYBC's Advantage Program by which donors earn points for frequent blood donations.  Earned Advantage points may then be redeemed for gifts, gift cards or donated to help select charitable organizations.

People can safely donate blood every 56 days and can donate platelets every three days, up to 24 times each year.  While all donors are encouraged to donate frequently, the Donor Advantage Program will no longer require a blood or platelet donation every 180 days.  Effective immediately, the revised program will only require a donation every 18 months to keep a donor's Advantage points active.  This requirement will be waived while any donor is temporarily or permanently deferred from donating.  

Potential donors may call 1-800-933-2566 or visit www.nybloodcenter.org for local blood drive information or to find the NYBC donor center nearest you.  Organizations looking for a rewarding, teambuilding experience may arrange a spring or summer blood drive.  All blood donors will receive NYBC Advantage points for their life saving efforts.

New York Blood Center thanks its blood and platelet donors for their generous support and thoughtfulness that make a difference in patients' lives every day.

To donate blood or platelets or for information on how to organize a blood drive, please call toll free: 1-800-933-2566, or visit:  www.nybloodcenter.org.

Any company, community organization, place of worship, or individual may host a blood drive.  NYBC also offers special community service scholarships for students who organize community blood drives during summer and winter months.  Blood donors receive free mini-medical exams on site including information about their temperature, pulse rate, blood pressure and hemoglobin 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 New York Blood Center:  New York Blood Center (NYBC) is one of the nation's largest non-profit, community-based blood centers. NYBC has been providing blood, transfusion products and services to hospitals since 1964, 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: @NYBloodCenter at http://twitter.com/nybloodcenter.

Contact:  Leslie Gonzalez
[email protected]
(718) 797-7804  Office
(646) 342-3038  Mobile

SOURCE New York Blood Center