Community Blood Services and New York Renaissance Faire Partner to Save Lives

August 10 & 11, 2012

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Donors will receive two complimentary tickets to the New York Renaissance Faire when they donate blood or platelets on Friday, August 10 or Saturday, August 11 at Community Blood Services� New Jersey or New York donor centers.

Community Blood Services and the New York Renaissance Faire in Sterling Forest (Tuxedo, New York) will continue their partnership of more than a decade by offering complimentary tickets to the Faire as a thank you to volunteer blood donors.

New Jersey donors can donate at the Paramus center, 970 Linwood Avenue West, on Friday, August 10 from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. or on Saturday, August 11 from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Or they can donate at the Lincoln Park center, 63 Beaverbrook Road, Suite 304 on Saturday, August 11 from 7:30 to 1 p.m.

In New York, donors can donate at the New Windsor center, 575 Hudson Valley Avenue, Suite 206 on Saturday, August 11 from 8 a.m. to 12 noon.

To schedule your appointment to donate, call toll-free 866-228-1500 or click here . Walk-ins are welcome but an appointment is recommended. An appointment is needed to make a platelet donation at the Paramus or Lincoln Park donor centers in New Jersey.

"Every summer for the past 12 years the Faire has generously offered tickets to our volunteer blood donors in recognition of their commitment to helping to save lives. Collecting enough blood during the summer to meet the needs of patients in the hospitals we serve would be impossible without their unselfishness," said Karen Ferriday, director of community affairs at Community Blood Services.

Ferriday noted that Community Blood Services, a not-for-profit organization, needs to collect 250 pints of blood each day in order to meet the transfusion needs of patients at the more than 20 hospitals it serves in New Jersey and New York. She said there has been an ongoing blood shortage with all types needed, especially O negative, A negative and B negative, as well as platelets to treat cancer patients and AB male plasma to treat trauma victims.

"Your donation of blood during these summer months, when donations are at their lowest, indeed makes you a hero. The Renaissance Faire is pleased to continue the tradition of giving to those who give blood. We are grateful to provide complimentary tickets to our faire as an added incentive for your commitment to donate during this critical time. Thank you for being heroes to the community," said Wanda Carr, assistant general manager of the New York Renaissance Faire.

Whole blood donors must be 17-75 years old (16 years old with parental permission) and weigh at least 110 pounds. Donors also receive a complimentary mini-physical which includes non-fasting cholesterol, blood pressure, hemoglobin and non-fasting glucose screenings.

The New York Renaissance Faire is open rain or shine, 10 a.m. to 7 p.m., Saturdays and Sundays (including Labor Day), August 4 through September 23. click here for discount tickets event details. Children under 5 are always free!

This season marks the 35th anniversary celebration of the New York Renaissance Faire, a rollicking romp through Elizabethan England, set within the majestic groves of the Sterling Forest in Tuxedo, New York. Visitors can travel back in time and join Her Royal Majesty Queen Elizabeth I on a grand visit to an amazing 16th Century Faire. Hundreds of brightly costumed performers take the stage and fill the bustling streets with laughter! Stroll our quaint village as the music of the Renaissance surrounds you. Cheer your favorite knight at the Joust Tournament. Meet Robin Hood and his Merry Men. Feast on savory sweets and tempting treats. See amazing acrobatics, magicians, jugglers, swashbuckling pirates and more. Watch a Living Chess Match and laugh at tall tales! Play a game of skill or chance. Browse our Marketplace featuring over 100 artisans offering the finest in handmade wares. Where Fantasy Rules!