The girls lacrosse team at East Aurora High School had senior game night on May 8th. Each year they celebrate the life of Mike Schafer, who was an organ donor and also started the Booster Club at East Aurora High School.
The team wears green jerseys to celebrate Mike and to raise awareness about the importance of donation.
Thanks for spreading the word about donation!
Buffalo Mayor Byron Brown, with Donate Life Club students
Donate Life Club students from City Honors, Emerson and South Park High School went to Buffalo City Hall for Lobby Day on Monday, April 22nd. The students served as great ambassadors of the Donate Life mission. They advocated to common council members, explaining the importance of signing the NY State Donate Life Registry. The students even challenged Buffalo Mayor Byron Brown to host a blood drive and collect over 86 units of blood (to beat the top collecting school, South Park) Mayor Brown says he’s up for the challenge!
South District Council Member Christopher Scanlon, with Donate Life Club students
Fillmore District Council Member David Franczyk, along with Donate Life Club Students
The following blog was written by: Jamal Hamideh, South Park High School
Monday April 21, I attended the Unyts advocacy program where representatives from the company, myself and other students from various high schools such as Emerson and City Honors went to City Hall. We spoke to council members about the Donate Life program. We educated them of the benefits of organ, tissue and blood donations. It was a great learning experience for me and my peers and I feel very lucky to have been able to attend such an event.
We began our tour around the whole building including the observation deck on the 25th floor. I was stoked to meet mayor Byron Brown, as well as take photos with him and several other council members. At first I was very nervous to speak in front of people of such importance, but after a few tries I gained confidence after realizing that they’re normal people. We also gave them facts about how important it is to donate blood with Unyts, because it all stays local to save lives here in Western New York. Unyts saves hospitals millions of dollars on blood. We stressed the importance of city representatives to participate in spreading awareness and participating.
Overall, it was a great experience and I feel very proud to be a part of the whole program. Unyts is a very wonderful organization and is very active in the whole community of Western New York. Being there to advocate for Donate Life was a very beneficial experience for me, because I learned how the local political system operates, and the importance of every single person in that building. . Our group gave city hall and everybody in it a challenge, to match South Park’s blood donation rate of an average of 86 doners at each blood drive. The challenge was zealously accepted!
Unyts would like to congratulate the winners of the Donate Life Club poster contest.
It was close, but we were so impressed by the students of East Aurora High School. Congrats to the Donate Life Club for helping us spread the important message of Organ, Eye, Tissue and Blood donation here in WNY!
Cliff Benson, Sabres Chief Development officer, donates blood for Unyts
What a fantastic turnout for the Unyts/Buffalo Sabres blood drive on Monday, March 18th.
Blood donors were ready and waiting before it even opened, hoping to score an exclusive Sabres baseball cap, donated by New Era.
All donors who made appointments were able to take a tour of the locker room, which was a huge draw for diehard Sabres fans!
Inside the Sabres locker room
By the end of the day, over 160 donors came out to the First Niagara Center to donate blood, which helps keep safe levels at area hospitals.
Unyts is the primary supplier of blood for Kaleida Health, ECMC, and all the hospitals in Niagara and Wyoming Counties.
If you weren’t able to make it to the blood drive, but would like to donate blood, just make an appointment at a site near you!
The Ali’s Rally Foundation was created by the family & friends of Alison Gerlach, a bright, athletic senior at Williamsville South High School who gave the Gift of Life through organ donation. The Ali’s Rally Foundation raises funds in support of Unyts’ Donate Life high school education program, which increases awareness of the need for organ, eye, tissue, and blood donation.
The 10th Annual Ali’s Rally at the Alley is Saturday, March 23 at Transit Bowling Lanes in Williamsville. Ali’s Rally is an annual fundraiser of bowling, raffles, food, and prizes.
There are many ways to get involved!
**Since its inception, Ali’s Rally has raised over $177,000 for Unyts. Those funds are specifically designated towards Unyts’ “Donate Life” program, a school outreach program with the objective of continuing to make Western New York aware of the need for organ donation.
December 5th, 2012
Barb Rodgers, being interviewed by WGRZ's Kevin O'Neill
For Niagara Falls library specialist Barbara Rodgers, her birthday wish didn’t involve expensive gifts or even a party. She wanted to host a blood drive at the school and asked Unyts to get involved. We were delighted that around 130 students and faculty rolled up their sleeves to give the gift of life!
Thanks to everyone who donated at the Niagara Falls High School blood drive!
Even faculty rolled up their sleeves to support the Unyts Blood Drive!
Plenty of students volunteered their time throughout the day
Click to read Niagara Gazette Article
We’d like to take the time to give a big shout out to our friends at the Hard Rock Cafe in Niagara Falls, USA. Over the course of the past few months , the restaurant has raised over $1,000 in sales of its’ Hard Rock collectable pin (pictured above). Hard Rock was our community partner in April, donating gift cards to blood donors. They even sponsored a blood drive during donate life month (April).
The folks at Hard Rock even donated cookies for our Bucket List Bash at the Statler in April as well as the Donate Life Club Celebration at the Buffalo Bisons game in May.
We appreciate everything they do for us, and just wanted to say “thanks”, for helping us save and enhance lives here in Western New York!
*If you’d like to pick up a pin, stop by the Hard Rock Cafe in Niagara Falls, USA. They are on sale through 2012.
When the call for help goes out in Alden, the community responds in full force!
The Andrew Gramza Memorial Blood Drive collected 183 units of blood, that’s more blood than any other drive in recent history. The blood drive was held at Alden High School on Saturday, June 2nd.
Not only were people willing to donate blood, the generous community supported the event by buying tickets for the basket raffle. $9,500 was raised during this event, with proceeds going to Unyts Donate Life Foundation.
Thank you to everyone who helped make this blood drive a huge success!
Thanks for all the generous raffle baskets!
183 units of blood were donated!
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