The Diocese of Brooklyn and the New York Blood Center (NYBC) acknowledged the efforts of parish blood drive coordinators and recruiters for the calendar year of 2012 on April 17 at the Immaculate Conception Center, Douglaston.

The diocese contributed nearly 6,000 individual blood donations in 2012. Auxiliary Bishop Raymond Chappetto was on hand to honor the top three parishes in Brooklyn and Queens.

The NYBC ranked the diocesan parishes based on the most total donations, the largest increase in donations from 2011, the highest average donations per blood drive and the highest number of Alyx donations (double amount of red blood cells).

Top Donor Parishes

The top three Brooklyn parishes were: St. Columba, Marine Park; Our Lady Help of Christians, Midwood; and St. Ephrem, Dyker Heights.

The top three Queens parishes were St. Rita, Long Island City; St. Mary Gate of Heaven, Ozone Park; and Holy Child Jesus, Richmond Hill.

Bishop Chappetto thanked those in attendance for the work they’ve done and challenged them to continue “the ministry of saving lives.”

In addition to the parishes receiving awards, Deacon Richard Gilligan, vicariate representative for Queens, was honored, since he oversaw an increase of 200 blood donations in 2012 in the borough of Queens.

Carly Rose Nieves, a sophomore of Christ the King R.H.S., Middle Village, who has battled two bouts of leukemia, has benefited from the generosity of the diocese’s blood donors and expressed her gratitude to the coordinators and recruiters.

She encouraged everyone to “give the gift of life that only blood can offer.”

The NYBC serves 20 million people in the greater N.Y.C. area. For more information, visit www.nybloodcenter.org.

All photos by Jim Mancari.