Community Corner

Community Blood Services Announces Gala Honorees

Paramus Police Officer Rachel Morgan among those honored

Community Blood Services Foundation has announced the community and humanitarian honorees to be honored at its sixth annual Trustees Gala on October 15.

In celebration of the lifesaving work Community Blood Services conducts locally and around the world, the non-profit blood center will host this year’s fundraising Gala, “Around the Community, Around the World,” on Saturday, October 15, from 7 p.m. to midnight at the Woodcliff Lake Hilton, 200 Tice Boulevard. Proceeds will help support the center’s many lifesaving programs and services.

The blood center will honor Dr. Catherine A. Mazzola of NJ Pediatric Neurosurgical Associates with its “Spirit of Community” award. Dr. Mazzola serves as the director of Pediatric Neurosurgery and Craniofacial Center for Atlantic Health System – Goryeb Children’s Hospital in Morristown, NJ.  The Franklin Lakes resident is responsible for saving hundreds of children’s lives in and around the community. 

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Also being honored is Save Latin America, Inc., along with its program director, Johnny Torres, and founder and chairman, Anthony Ibarria Sr. SLA, based in Hudson County, NJ, provides services and information to Hispanics in the fields of education, health, government and business development.  Since 2004, SLA has partnered with Community Blood Services to demonstrate their joint commitment to the health of the community by hosting up to three mobile blood drives annually. Hundreds of pints of blood have been collected at the 22 drives held so far, and many potential marrow and stem cell donors have been registered.

In addition, two police officers that were injured in the line of duty and had lifesaving blood drives held in recognition of their brave work in the community are being recognized at this year’s Gala.  Those officers are Rachel Morgan of the Paramus Police Department and Gerald Veneziano of the Fairfield Police Department. 

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When told about his award, Veneziano said, "If it weren’t for the generous donations that your organization receives, I may not have been given the vital amount of blood needed for me to survive this tragic incident. In my specific circumstance giving blood meant giving life."

Community Blood Services, whose main center is located at 970 Linwood Avenue in Paramus, assists patients in 25 hospitals throughout New Jersey and New York by providing lifesaving blood products such as whole blood, platelets and plasma. It also provides stem cell and bone marrow donations to seriously ill patients throughout the U.S. and to 41 countries around the world.

Individual tickets can be purchased at $250 each, and tables of 10 are also available.  For more information on tickets, sponsorship opportunities and the online event journal, contact Jennifer Wilkes at 201-895-8400 or jenniferw@cbsblood.org, or visit www.cbsfoundationgala.com.

The glittering black-tie preferred event will include cocktails, a silent auction, dinner and dancing. Kristin Johnson, anchor of WCBS News, Channel 2 in New York and a supporter of the blood center’s activities, will emcee the event.

Co-chairs of this year’s Gala are Tom Polen, worldwide president, BD Diagnostics-Diagnostic Systems, and John Uzzi, president of Roy W. Walters & Associates in Paramus. Kristine Johnson, anchor of WCBS News, Channel 2 in New York and a supporter of the blood center’s activities, will emcee the event.

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