Assembly Resolution No. 1488

BY: M. of A. Ra

RECOGNIZING May 28, 2026, as National Marrow Donor
Program (NMDP) Donor Day in the State of New York

WHEREAS, It is the custom of this Legislative Body to recognize
official days which enhance awareness of meaningful causes and pay
tribute to those individuals whose extraordinary generosity and
compassion save lives; and

WHEREAS, Attendant to such concern, and in full accord with its
long-standing traditions, this Legislative Body is justly proud to
recognize May 28, 2026, as National Marrow Donor Program Donor Day in
the State of New York, and to honor New York's NMDP life-saving donors;
and

WHEREAS, Every three to four minutes, someone in the United States
is diagnosed with a blood cancer; and

WHEREAS, A bone marrow or blood stem cell transplant can cure or
treat more than 75 diseases, including leukemia, lymphoma, aplastic
anemia, and sickle cell disease; and

WHEREAS, Approximately 75 percent of patients do not have a fully
matched donor within their family and must rely on the NMDP to help
locate an altruistic volunteer donor of marrow, blood stem cells, or
cord blood; and

WHEREAS, For nearly 40 years, NMDP has provided hope and healing to
patients by managing the national registry of volunteer blood stem cell
donors, and in the summer of 2026 will reach the remarkable milestone of
facilitating 150,000 bone marrow and blood stem cell transplants made
possible through the selfless commitment of volunteer donors; and

WHEREAS, Young donors between the ages of 18 and 35 are especially
needed to join the registry, as research demonstrates that younger
donors often contribute to more successful transplant outcomes; and

WHEREAS, NMDP partners with college students across the State of New
York to host donor recruitment events on more than 34 college and
university campuses in 2026, including efforts at Hofstra University
that resulted in nearly 80 newly registered potential donors; and

WHEREAS, Eight institutions of higher education in New York State
currently maintain dedicated NMDP chapters, including the University at
Buffalo, New York Institute of Technology, CUNY Hunter College, Stony
Brook University, Syracuse University, Hamilton College, New York
University, and Cornell University; and

WHEREAS, New York State is home to 13 transplant centers that
provide these life-saving treatments, as well as six collection and
apheresis centers that collect blood stem cells and bone marrow from
volunteer donors; and

WHEREAS, This resolution is inspired by the 366,275 New Yorkers
currently listed on the NMDP registry who stand ready to donate, and by
the 730 New Yorkers who have answered the call to provide life-saving
donations during the past five years; and

WHEREAS, Designating May 28, 2026, as NMDP Donor Day in the State of
New York will provide an opportunity to recognize these selfless donors,
raise public awareness, and encourage more individuals to join the
registry in support of future life-saving transplants; and

WHEREAS, On May 28, 2026, members of the public who meet eligibility
criteria will have the opportunity to inquire about joining the registry
at the New York State Legislative Office Building; and

WHEREAS, The countless New Yorkers who have joined the NMDP
registry, and those who have gone on to donate bone marrow or blood stem
cells, embody the highest ideals of compassion, selflessness, and civic
responsibility, offering hope and a second chance at life to patients
and families facing devastating illness, often for complete strangers
they may never meet; and

WHEREAS, Recognizing May 28, 2026, as NMDP Donor Day in the State of
New York will provide an opportunity to recognize these selfless donors,
raise public awareness, and encourage more individuals to join the
registry in support of future life-saving transplants; and

RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
recognize May 28, 2026, as National Marrow Donor Program Donor Day in
the State of New York; and be it further

RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body encourages all New Yorkers to
learn more about blood stem cell donation and to consider joining the
NMDP registry in order to help save lives.