Diversity Outreach Initiative 2008

Grantee Name

New York Blood Center

Funding Area

Special Projects Fund

Publication Date

December 2011

Grant Amount

$220,446

Grant Date:

January 1, 2009 – August 19, 2010

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New York City suffers from an acute blood shortage: annually, 700,000 units (1 unit = 1 donation) are used, but fewer than 500,000 units are donated.

The New York Blood Center’s (NYBC’s) responsibility is to provide precise blood matches through PreciseMatch for all chronically transfused individuals, including those with sickle cell anemia, in the metropolitan area.

With support from NYHealth, NYBC implemented a new wide-ranging outreach program in African-American and Hispanic communities to significantly build the agency’s capacity to deliver needed blood types and save lives.

Outcomes and Lessons Learned

Collected 1,574 units of blood from new African-American and Hispanic/Latino-American blood donors.
Added a considerable number of rare donors to NYBC’s database and greatly helped fulfill the need for rare blood types, largely found in African-American and Hispanic/Latino-American communities, which is critical to meeting specific needs of all patients in the metropolitan area’s diverse communities.
Developed a new bilingual educational brochure for the PreciseMatch team. The brochures feature three local Latino patients suffering from sickle cell disease. More than 10,000 brochures have been distributed at local events and blood drives since its creation in the summer of 2009.
Generated presentations and abundant press coverage to continue educating the local public and increasing the PreciseMatch program’s visibility
Secured additional sustainability from the New York City Council, which gifted over $185,000, to further support diversity outreach and recruitment.

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