Hospital receives award from Community Blood Services

Warwick — Four times each year, St. Anthony Community Hospital, a member of the Bon Secours Charity Health System, partners with Community Blood Services to sponsor a blood drive. The drives are coordinated through the hospital’s laboratory. “Thanks to a dedicated Warwick community,” said laboratory director Gerianne Horan, “St. Anthony Community Hospital was able to recruit 111 blood donors in 2005.” That achievement earned St. Anthony Community Hospital one of three Stars for Life Awards from Community Blood Services. On Tuesday, June 6, Jeff Reilly, vice president of administration for St. Anthony Community Hospital, accepted the award at a Community Blood Services’ awards dinner at Seasons, in Washington Township, N.J. “Community Blood Services is thrilled to have a partner like St. Anthony Community Hospital,” stated Susan Mysliwiec, assistant vice president of recruitment at Community Blood Services. “Its continued dedication and commitment to registering blood donors ensures that together we will meet the community’s ongoing blood needs.” Community Blood Services is based in Paramus, N.J., with donation sites throughout northern New Jersey and Goshen. The not-for-profit organization, which was established in 1953, provides blood and blood products to 37 area hospitals. Its capabilities also include cord blood collection, processing and banking, as well as bone marrow registration services. The organization initiated its Stars for Life Award in 2002 as a means of recognizing the dedication of its corporate and hospital partners, and to present participants as models for other organizations. Participants are required to sponsor a minimum of three drives each year, and are encouraged not only to include employees but also to open up drives to the residents of the community. “Community Blood Services provides units of red blood cells and platelets each year to local area hospitals to meet the needs of the seriously ill and injured patients in our community,” said Leah Cerkvenik, executive vice president and administrator at St. Anthony Community Hospital. “We look forward to another successful year and continued partnership with this wonderful organization.” The next blood drive, sponsored by St. Anthony Community Hospital, will be held from 2 to 7 p.m. on Tuesday, June 27, at Mount Alverno. To make an appointment to donate, call 987-5155.