Wall Street Dinner Drive
Dec 19, 2008 by Gift of Life
News
UJA Federation of New York hosted a bone marrow drive at its annual Wall Street Dinner on December 16, giving members of the financial services industry the opportunity to enroll as potential donors in the Gift of Life Registry.
“UJA Federation and its Wall Street Division have been very supportive over the years, and we are grateful for the opportunity to partner with them in this life-saving cause,” said Jay Feinberg, Executive Director.
“It has been our privilege and honor to present The Gift of Life opportunity to our more than 1000 attendees each year,” responded Director Richard Spitz, Wall Street & Financial Services Division, UJA Federation of New York.
So far, 340 donors have registered via the Wall Street Dinner and other UJA Federation of New York drives, resulting in 11 potential matches.
“The UJA Wall Street Dinner was my first introduction to Gift of Life, its wonderful mission and its dedicated staff. Becoming a donor was one of the most meaningful experiences of my life. Thank you for helping me save a life. Thank you for changing mine.” said Jonathan Feldman, who was tested at a Wall Street Dinner drive and ultimately saved the live of a young man suffering from leukemia. He hopes to have the extraordinary opportunity to meet his transplant recipient someday.
The Wall Street Division first became involved when former Bear Stearns president Warren Spector was actively searching for a donor for his sister Ruthie. Gift of Life eventually found a match for her, and she received a successful transplant.
Volunteers at the December 16 drive included bone marrow donor Yocheved Berger and her husband, Moshe. Yocheved donated her blood stem cells to transplant a woman from Israel suffering from leukemia. Also in attendance was long time volunteer and advocate Nili Shrage.
Said Jay Feinberg, “We hope other organizations will take the lead of UJA Federation of New York. They are a role model, and we are proud of our affiliation.”
About UJA Federation of New York
UJA-Federation of New York cares for those in need, rescues those in harm's way, and renews and strengthens the Jewish people in New York, in Israel, and around the world. They reach out to the poor, elderly, and people in need, providing social and humanitarian services in New York and around the world; connecting communities worldwide by aiding Jews in distress and by strengthening and sustaining Jewish communities from Belarus to Buenos Aires; and supporting programs to make Jewish education more meaningful, to deepen Jewish identity, and to recruit and train dynamic professionals to serve the community.
About Gift of Life
The Gift of Life Bone Marrow Foundation facilitates bone marrow, blood stem cell and cord blood transplants for children and adults suffering from life-threatening illnesses. Since tissue type is inherited, a patient’s best chance of finding a genetic match lies with donors of similar ethnicity. Gift of Life strives to increase the representation of Jewish donors in the registry in order to overcome the devastating effects of the Holocaust, which severed bloodlines.
