Michael Nolan passed away 10 years ago, leaving behind a lasting legacy by saving six lives through organ donation
YONKERS, NY – On Saturday, October 11, Westchester County Legislator James Nolan teamed up with New York Blood Center (NYBC) to host a community blood drive in honor of his late brother Michael. The drive was held at Saunders Trades & Technical High School in Yonkers, NY, where Michael was a star athlete before being drafted to play professional baseball with the Oakland Athletics.
Michael was tragically shot and killed in 2015 at the age of 23 and ultimately saved six lives by donating his organs. Lauren Shields of LiveOnNY, and a dedicated NYBC partner, attended the drive to share information about organ donation and the process surrounding an organ transplant. As a blood and organ recipient, Lauren is a tireless advocate for NYBC and its mission.
Legislator Nolan was joined at the drive by several other members of the Westchester County Board of Legislators, his parents, and his two other brothers. He and his family have continued to honor Michael’s memory in many ways—including the Michael Nolan Scholarship Fund—but Saturday’s event marked the first blood drive they have held in his honor.
The drive’s goal was 50 units of blood, and thanks to community support, the final collection was 57 units with the potential to impact more than 170 lives.