New master campus strengthens NYBCe’s research and lifesaving mission, allowing for more efficient service to hospitals throughout Westchester County, Hudson Valley, and tri-state area
RYE, NY – New York Blood Center Enterprises (NYBCe) celebrated the opening of their newest and largest donor center located at 601 Midland Ave in Rye today. The ribbon-cutting comes at a critical moment, as NYBC has declared a blood emergency due to a sharp and sustained drop in donations across New York and New Jersey.
The state-of-the-art donor center is housed within the 187,000-square-foot master campus — the first single-site home for NYBCe’s tri-state operations — bringing together blood collections, life sciences research, processing, and cell therapy manufacturing under one roof.
“Our stunning Rye donor center is one of the centerpieces of our new campus, one that we hope will become a hub for the Westchester community,” said Andrea Cefarelli, Senior Vice President at New York Blood Center. “This incredible campus allows NYBCe to fulfill our mission of supporting the tri-state area’s public health and sharing our life-saving research around the world. We are grateful to the Town of Rye, our local leaders, and everyone who joined us to celebrate this exciting new chapter.”
The ribbon-cutting ceremony was attended by leaders from across the region, including Westchester County Executive Ken Jenkins, Westchester CountyBoard of Legislators Chairman Vedat Gashi and Legislator Catherine Parker, Suburban Hospital Alliance of New York State President and CEO Wendy Darwell, and other partners, blood donation advocates, donors, and recipients for a press conference and ribbon-cutting ceremony.
Located at the confluence of I-95 and I-287 and situated next to the Rye Train Station, the new space provides unparalleled convenience for blood donors and NYBC employees alike. This new campus will allow NYBCe to provide more efficient service to hospitals throughout Westchester County, the Hudson Valley, and the tri-state area, improving the region’s overall public health.
“Without the gift of blood donation, I would have never made it to my transplant day. Each transfusion was a lifeline, keeping me alive while I waited for a donor to be found,” said Lauren Shields, a heart transplant recipient and blood donation advocate who spoke at the event. “My story is not just my own. It belongs to you as well. It’s a reflection of the countless lives touched by the work of the New York Blood Center. It’s a reminder that every task you perform, every donation you process, every outreach you conduct, has the potential to save a life and shape a future.”
Federal and regional leaders also shared their support for NYBCe’s continued mission:
“For over 60 years, the New York Blood Center has played an integral role in connecting New Yorkers with a critical resource at their greatest moment of need,” said U.S. Senator Chuck Schumer. “The opening of a new donor center at their state-of-the-art Rye Campus will help usher in a new chapter in the New York Blood Center’s history and advance their vital mission for years to come.”
“I’d like to congratulate New York Blood Center on 60 years of lifesaving work in New York and across the country,” said U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand.
“May the grand opening at the new campus in Rye multiply and magnify the next 60 years of your lifesaving research, innovation, and impact,” said Westchester County Executive Ken Jenkins.
“Consigli is committed to making lasting impacts on the communities we serve, and this project will undoubtedly support the health and futures of countless families who rely on New York Blood Center’s lifesaving resources,” said Michael Henrici, Project Executive at Consigli Construction Co., Inc. “We are grateful to have had the opportunity, alongside our project partners, to bring this incredible new campus to life and build a foundation that will advance NYBCe’s meaningful mission for generations to come.”
In addition to the donor center, the campus includes a comprehensive menu of services and products to support and manage the full spectrum of transfusion medicine, regenerative medicine, and cellular-therapy-related research projects. NYBC is recognized internationally for its high humanitarian impact, research and development, and commercial collaboration.
As the organization celebrates this expansion, NYBCe continues to call on the public to donate blood during the ongoing blood emergency. Appointments can be made at nybc.org.
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About New York Blood Center
Founded in 1964, New York Blood Center (NYBC) has served the tri-state area for more than 60 years, delivering 500,000 lifesaving blood products annually to 150+ hospitals, EMS and healthcare partners. NYBC is part of New York Blood Center Enterprises (NYBCe), which spans 17+ states and delivers one million blood products to 400+ U.S. hospitals annually. NYBCe additionally delivers cellular therapies, specialty pharmacy, and medical services to 200+ research, academic and biopharmaceutical organizations. NYBCe’s Lindsley F. Kimball Research Institute is a leader in hematology and transfusion medicine research, dedicated to the study, prevention, treatment and cure of bloodborne and blood-related diseases. NYBC serves as a vital community lifeline dedicated to helping patients and advancing global public health. To learn more, visit nybc.org. Connect with us on Facebook, X, Instagram, and LinkedIn.