On August 20, New York Blood Center (NYBC) joined the United States Merchant Marine Academy (USMMA) in Kings Point, NY, to celebrate an extraordinary achievement: more than 10,000 blood donations collected over 25 years of dedicated partnership.
At a recognition ceremony held at Delano Hall, Director of Community and Stakeholder Relations Yadira Navarro thanked USMMA Superintendent Captain Ceraolo, the midshipmen, and the Academy community for their enduring commitment to saving lives through blood donation. David Blatt, Account Manager, Donor Recruitment, also represented NYBC at the event.
Local leaders, including Legislator Mazi Pilip, Assemblyman Daniel Norber, Councilmember Christine Liu, and Wazma Hassan (representing Congressman Tom Suozzi’s office), joined the celebration, presenting proclamations and citations in honor of the milestone. Assemblyman Norber praised the Academy’s service, calling the midshipmen “stand-up individuals” who continue to show dedication to their community.
NYBC Vice President of Operations Jeannie Mascolino reflected on the broader impact of this milestone: “It’s been an honor and a privilege to partner with the United States Merchant Marine Academy over the last 25 years. More than 10,000 lifesaving donations have been collected through this partnership, potentially impacting more than 30,000 patients in need.”
