Dear Lucas,
A woman who has devoted her career to helping New Yorkers needs your help. I have known Jennifer Jones Austin, a wife and mother of two young children, for many years as a dedicated advocate for children and families. Whether through her role as senior vice president of Community Investment for the United Way of New York City, or her work as New York City's first family services coordinator, Jennifer has helped provide our city's children with better health, education and safe living environments.
She is suffering now, from leukemia. Her only chance at surviving this terrible disease is to receive a bone marrow transplant and I ask for your help. You could be the one to save Jennifer. It only takes a simple cheek swab to determine if you are a match. And, thanks to recent medical advances, bone marrow transplants now only require that you donate blood as opposed to having a surgical procedure. Please join us at the donor drive this Sunday, December 13th, from 9:00am - 3:00pm at Bethany Baptist Church, 460 Marcus Garvey Blvd, Brooklyn, New York (Tel: 718-455-8400). Another way to help is by joining the Be the Match Marrow Registry. Click here to join and enter the Promo Code - JJA1068.
Bone marrow transplants require a 100% compatible match and it is most likely that Jennifer's match will be with another African American. Jennifer's search for a donor is so urgent due to the lack of compatible matches in the National Bone Marrow Registry. Caucasians have a 92+% chance of finding a match, while African Americans have less than half that chance of finding a match in the current pool of donors. By participating in this weekend's donor drive or joining online you can potentially help save Jennifer or one of the thousands of people whose only hope of survival is from a bone marrow transplant.
There are few times when a simple act of generosity can save a life. I hope you will consider taking some time this weekend to help make a profound difference for Jennifer, her family and the thousands of others who suffer from leukemia.
Thank you,
Bill de Blasio