Powerhouse Team at Red Cross

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According to Stephanie Dunn Ashley, CEO of the Greenwich based Metro New York North Chapter (MNYN) of the American Red Cross, the recently completed $3 million renovation project of the headquarters makes donating blood much easier and does so much more. The project has modernized the entire facility and opened the Jill and John Coyle Blood Donor Center.

Ashley describes the renovated building as having created a foundation from which the rest of the Red Cross work can be accomplished. “This will empower our Red Cross teams as they continue to deliver critical services,” Ashley noted.

The renovation includes improvements to all three floors of the facility.

The first floor of the building features the Board Room, a multi-purpose and modular space with updated technology, room for hands-on practice, and the ability to break into smaller groups for concurrent classes and the Service to the Armed Forces/International Services suite offering meeting rooms, a lounge, and quiet workspaces.

The second floor houses the new Jill and John Coyle Blood Donor Center. The center includes eight permanent beds for the collection of whole blood and platelets to complement the blood drives sponsored across the community monthly. It will also eventually allow for the collection of platelets and plasma – a first in the Metro NY North area.

The third floor supports other Red Cross programs and services including disaster response, a volunteer center and daily administration for Red Cross team members.

The significance of collecting platelets is important. Platelets are the clotting portion of blood and are needed for many reasons, according to the Red Cross, but they are primarily given to help people battling cancer, sickle cell and other chronic diseases; newborns and mothers; and those recovering from traumatic injuries. Platelets can only be used within five days – so there is a constant, often critical need for donors to keep up with demand. The statistics are staggering. Every 15 seconds, someone in the U.S. needs platelets.

While platelet donations take longer, they can be given more frequently. The entire process takes about two to three hours and may be repeated every seven days, up to 24 times a year.

Whole blood donations, which can be given now at the new center, are a faster process but can only be given every 56 days. This is the most flexible type of donation and can be transfused in its original form or used to help multiple people when separated into its specific components of red cells, plasma, and platelets. To schedule a blood donation, visit www.redcrossblood.org.

To support this project, the American Red Cross launched the PreResponder campaign, led by Red Cross Board Members Heather Wise, Pam Farr, and Giovanna Miller, pictured above. Remarkably, Farr served as Board Chair during the original move in 2002 to Indian Field Road.

As part of the fundraising effort, there are naming opportunities available for the Chapter headquarters include the building itself as well as meeting rooms, board rooms, and training rooms.

The organization has also announced a renewed Brick Campaign. First initiated in 2002, the original bricks are located at the entrance to the building and additional commemorative bricks are available to the public for $500. More information about the Brick Campaign is available by visiting www.redcross.org/NewMNYNHQ.

To date, lead donors have pledged over a million dollars in support of the project. Donors so far include Pamela Farr and Buford Alexander, Liz and David Boutry, Anna and Vincent Cappucci, Sue and Peter Carlson, Linda Chase-Jenkins, Lisa and Wayne Cooper, Jill and John Coyle, Janine and Robert Kennedy, Anita and Timothy McBride, Giovanna and Brian Miller, MNYN Associate Board Members, Ross H. Ogden, Leslie and John Osborn, Suzanne and Craig Packer, The Schwartz Family Found, Julia and Ulrik Trampe, Webster Bank, Heather and Eric Wise.

The scope of the Red Cross worldwide is a testament to the human desire to help one another. The American Red Cross (founded in 1881) is celebrating its 140th birthday this year, the Greenwich chapter, founded in 1914, is part of the overall Metro New York North Chapter of the American Red Cross which also includes Westchester County, Rockland County, and the U.S. Military Academy at West Point. There are more than 600 locally supported American Red Cross chapters and more than 500,000 volunteers.

The American Red Cross is just a part of the world’s largest humanitarian network with 13 million volunteers in 187 countries.

“The work of the Red Cross extends across the community and around the world every day,” Ashley said.

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