Empire City Casino has partnered with the New York Blood Center to host a community blood drive on Thursday, May 11 from 1 p.m. to 7 p.m. in the second floor Uptown Room of the casino.
New York’s health care system requires nearly 2,000 blood donations daily to address the needs of New York and New Jersey communities. Patients who require lifesaving blood or platelet transfusion include cancer patients, accident, burn or trauma victims, newborn babies and mothers delivering babies, transplant recipients, surgery patients and many more.
Empire City is hosting the upcoming blood drive to raise awareness about the increased need for life-saving blood donations and to provide a convenient location for its guests, employees and members of the general public to participate.
“When we see an immediate need in the surrounding communities that Empire City serves, we always try to do our part to step in and assist,” said Ed Domingo, senior vice president and general manager of Empire City Casino by MGM Resorts.
Nationally, more than 4.5 million Americans require a blood transfusion each year, with individuals requiring blood every two seconds. Despite this extensive need, only about 10% of eligible blood donors in the U.S. donate annually.
“As we continue to face unprecedented challenges, it is more important than ever to support one another,” said New York State Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins, whose late husband had been the recipient of numerous blood transfusions.
“Donating blood is a simple act of kindness that can make a significant difference in the lives of others,” she added. “I am proud to support the critical work of the New York Blood Center and Empire City Casino and thank them for organizing and hosting this blood drive. I encourage everyone who is able to donate blood and make a difference in the lives of those in need.”
Empire City Casino’s creative manager, Justin Grasso, lives by this advice, having donated more than two gallons of blood to the New York Blood Center to date over the course of 16 donations.
“I always tried to donate blood at least once a year and at Empire City’s annual blood drives,” he said. “But after seeing the increased need for donations during the pandemic, I started donating every eight weeks and plan on donating platelets in the future as well.”
Anyone between the ages of 18 and 75, who weighs at least 110 pounds and is free of COVID-19 symptoms, is eligible to donate life-saving blood. To ensure everyone’s safety, all blood donors will also receive a pre-donation health screening that includes blood pressure, temperature, iron levels and a pulse check.
One pint of blood can save up to three lives. Those interested in donating are encouraged to schedule an appointment in advance by calling 1-800-933-2566 or visiting the donor portal online at http://bit.ly/EmpireBloodDrive.
For more information on Empire City Casino by MGM Resorts, visit www.empirecitycasino.com.
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