The friendly competition between the FDNY and NYPD aims to help generate awareness of the need for blood during the critical summer months
NEW YORK, NY – New York Blood Center (NYBC) will be partnering with the New York City Police Department (NYPD) and the Fire Department of New York (FDNY) for “The Bravest vs. The Finest – Battle for Blood Donors” where the two departments will be competing to see which can collect the most blood donations. This partnership aims to help generate awareness of the need for blood during the critical summer months and was kicked off with a press conference at FDNY Headquarters located at 9 MetroTech Center with representatives from all three organizations.
The competition will run from Monday, June 23, 2025 to Sunday, July 20, 2025 at all FDNY and NYPD sponsored blood drives, NYBC donor centers and other community blood drives. Participation at non-FDNY or NYPD blood drives or NYBC donor centers will require an identifying group number, which is either 4FDNY or 4NYPD. The department with the combined highest results will receive an award from NYBC and all participating donors will be entered into a sweepstakes for a $500 e-gift card.
“The brave men and women of the FDNY and NYPD know the importance of being prepared for an emergency better than anyone, which includes ensuring that our local hospitals have a robust blood supply for New Yorkers who may need them,” said Andrea Cefarelli, Senior Vice President at New York Blood Center. “We hope that this friendly competition will encourage blood donations to help NYBC build our inventory leading into the critical summer months. We’d like to thank the FDNY and NYPD for their decades of partnership and hope to see them at a blood drive soon!”
“The FDNY is proud to participate in this friendly competition to support New York Blood Center and help address a critical blood shortage in the region,” said FDNY Commissioner Robert S. Tucker. “Every day, the FDNY and the NYPD work together to protect the lives of millions of New Yorkers. I have no doubt the FDNY – and its supporters – will do what it always does: answer the call, roll up our sleeves, and help our fellow New Yorkers through blood donation. The Blood Center has been a vital partner of the FDNY for decades, and many of our members are alive today because of their lifesaving work.”
“Our officers know firsthand how critical blood donations are — we see the need after shootings, car crashes, and countless emergencies,” said NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch. “That’s why we’re proud to support this campaign alongside the FDNY and the New York Blood Center. It’s a friendly competition, but the goal is serious: making sure there’s enough blood on the shelves to save lives when it matters most.”
NYBC declared a blood emergency earlier this month due to less than a 1–2 day supply of critical blood types across the region. The summer months, known as “trauma season,” bring more accidents and trauma-related injuries, increasing emergency room visits and transfusion needs. At the same time, donations typically decline due to travel, school breaks, and holiday schedules. NYBC has had to rely on out-of-state donations, an unsustainable fix for a state with some of the nation’s busiest hospitals.
Blood donors can give every 56 days, and platelet donors can give twice per month. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recently lifted several blood donor eligibility restrictions. To view current eligibility guidelines, visit nybc.org or call 800.688.0900.