Newsroom

NewYork-Presbyterian, one of the nation’s leading healthcare systems, is partnering with Van Leeuwen Ice Cream to increase blood donations in New York City by making the experience of donating blood a little sweeter.

All who come to donate blood at select New York Blood Center locations from January 11-31 will be offered a voucher for a 14 oz. pint of ice cream, redeemable at any of Van Leeuwen’s 29 scoop shops in New York City, as a thank you for their donation.

Every two seconds, someone in the U.S. requires a blood transfusion. The benefits of donating blood include helping people injured in accidents, undergoing cancer treatment, and battling blood diseases, among other reasons. According to New York Blood Center, the winter months present unique challenges as family vacations, holiday travel, seasonal illness and inclement weather all contribute to making blood donation less of a priority. Hospitals and patients rely upon a steady flow of volunteer donors, but the past few years have brought chronic blood shortages nationwide.

“NewYork-Presbyterian is proud to team up with Van Leeuwen to raise awareness about the urgent need for blood donations at this time of year, and to support our ongoing campaign to spread the message that one donation can save up to three lives,” said Devika Mathrani, senior vice president and chief marketing and communications officer at NewYork-Presbyterian. “We hope to encourage New Yorkers to make donating blood part of their routine, and we look forward to thanking all who come to donate at New York Blood Center locations by offering them a delicious treat.”

Participating New York Blood Center locations in Manhattan are in Grand Central, Midtown South and the Upper East Side, in Brooklyn, and at a mobile unit that will visit spots throughout the city including Astoria, Lincoln Center, the Upper West Side, Williamsburg, and more. More information on the partnership and how to register to donate can be found on this site: nyp.org/donateblood

The campaign was created with NewYork-Presbyterian’s creative agency partner, Havas New York.