NEW INITIATIVE LAUNCHED: SHARING FOR LIFE - American Visitors to Israel to Donate Blood at MDA

Sharing for Life
CONFERENCE OF PRESIDENTS OF MAJOR AMERICAN JEWISH ORGANIZATIONS

Ronald S. Lauder
Mortimer B. Zuckerman
Chairman

Malcolm I. Hoenlein
Executive Vice Chairman

NEW INITIATIVE LAUNCHED: SHARING FOR LIFE
American Visitors to Israel to Donate Blood at MDA

New York, October 29, 2002… A major new initiative has been launched to enable American and other visitors to Israel to donate blood to help Magen David Adom (MDA), Israel’s equivalent of the Red Cross, fulfill its responsibility to meet the needs of Israel’s civilians and military. Under the joint auspices of the Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations, American Red Magen David for Israel (ARMDI) and MDA Blood Services in Israel, the “Sharing for Life” program will provide mobile units that will come to hotels or other sites to facilitate the collection of blood donations.

Malcolm Hoenlein, Executive Vice Chairman of the Conference of Presidents, said that “this is an extremely meaningful expression of solidarity with the people of Israel. The initial response from Jewish and non-Jewish groups planning trips to Israel has been extremely positive. They see this as a vital undertaking that has great practical as well as symbolic significance. What could be a more personal demonstration of commitment and concern than giving blood?”

Professor Eilat Shinar, Director of MDA Blood Services, pointed out the vital need for blood to meet the needs of regular medical services as well as the demands for victims of terror and soldiers maintaining security on the front lines. In addition, MDA National Blood Service Center needs added supplies of blood components (plasma) to produce antibodies to the smallpox vaccine as a precaution in the event of a biological terrorist attack.

ARMDI/MDA has made arrangements for bloodmobiles to meet with the various groups at their hotels or other convenient locations. The MDA National Blood Center in Ramat Gan, Israel’s main blood processing center, will also be available to accept blood donors and provide special tours of the facility, one of the most advanced in the world.

The sponsors said that this program is particularly important at a time when many in Israel feel a sense of isolation. “This program will show the solidarity and unity of their brothers and sisters abroad, both Jews and non-Jews,” they said. Some 25 mobile units will be available to accommodate many groups simultaneously. American students studying in institutions of higher learning in Israel also will be invited to participate. Israel’s Ministry of Tourism, tour operators and mission sponsors are being enlisted to support outreach efforts.

“Israel must be fully prepared for any eventuality. ‘Sharing for Life’ will help assure that ample blood supplies will be available,” said Prof. Shinar and Mr. Hoenlein.

For further information contact:
ARMDI - American Red Magen David for Israel
(American Friends of Magen David Adom)
888 Seventh Avenue, Suite 403, New York, NY 10106
Website: www.armdi.org
E-mail: info@armdi.org
Toll Free (866) 632-2763

Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations
633 Third Avenue, 21st Floor, New York, NY 10017
E-mail: info@prescon.org
Tel. 212-318-6111

Below is a graphic of a lapel pin that will be distributed to participants in the "Sharing for Life" blood donation program:

The Conference of Presidents is the central coordinating body representing 52 national Jewish organizations on issues of national and international concern.