LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION memorializing Governor Andrew M. Cuomo to
proclaim Tuesday, May 3, 2011, as Bone Marrow and Umbilical Cord Blood
Donor Registration Day in the State of New York

WHEREAS, The State of New York takes great pride in recognizing serious
issues, proclaiming official days to increase awareness of concerns
which affect all New Yorkers; and
WHEREAS, It is the sense of this Legislative Body to memorialize
Governor Andrew M. Cuomo to proclaim Tuesday, May 3, 2011, as Bone
Marrow and Umbilical Cord Blood Donor Registration Day in the State of
New York; and
WHEREAS, On this day, hundreds of donors, patients, and supporters
will come to Albany in an effort to raise awareness about the lack of
sufficient bone marrow and umbilical cord blood donors among ethnic
communities in the State of New York; and
WHEREAS, They come in support of Jaden's Law which, when it becomes
law, will add bone marrow and umbilical cord blood to the New York State
Donor Registry, and will allow New Yorkers to indicate their choice to
donate on their driver's licenses akin to other organ donations; and
WHEREAS, Shana Melius, the Founder and CEO of Preserve Our Legacy,
Inc., the vital organization instrumental in spearheading Jaden's Law,
along with representatives of DKMS Americas, the largest bone marrow
donor center in the United States, will be present to help call atten-
tion to the important issue of increasing bone marrow and blood
donations among minority communities; and
WHEREAS, Currently, African-Americans are the ethnicity at the highest
risk of leukemia but the least likely to find a match in the national
bone marrow registry, due to the genetic diversity of the African conti-
nent; and
WHEREAS, Everyone has the ability to give "the gift of life" by donat-
ing bone marrow and umbilical cord blood to someone who faces imminent
death from a blood-related disease; and
WHEREAS, Bone Marrow and Umbilical Cord Blood Donor Registration Day
provides the opportunity to educate people and to encourage them to
consider marrow and blood donation, helping to ensure that more lives
are saved; and
WHEREAS, Bone Marrow and Umbilical Cord Blood Donor Registration Day
is also a time to recognize and applaud the researchers, medical profes-
sionals, advocates and volunteers, past and present, who have contrib-
uted so much to the advancement of marrow and blood donation, most
particularly, to acknowledge and express our deepest gratitude to those
who donate their marrow for their extraordinary generosity in giving the
gift of life; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
memorialize Governor Andrew M. Cuomo to proclaim Tuesday, May 3, 2011,
as Bone Marrow and Umbilical Cord Blood Donor Registration Day in the
State of New York; and be it further
RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be tran-
smitted to The Honorable Andrew M. Cuomo, Governor of the State of New
York.