UES School, Blood Center To Host Blood Drive Marking Reopening

UPPER EAST SIDE, NY — An Upper East Side school will partner with the New York Blood Center to host a blood drive on Tuesday that marks an important anniversary.

The International Institute for the Brain (iBRAIN), a school on East 94th Street that caters to children with severe disabilities, says it was the first in the nation to reopen after the initial COVID-19 lockdowns last spring.

Tuesday's blood drive, which is taking place at the school, will mark one year since it reopened to students during 2020.

"We could not think of a better way of celebrating our one-year anniversary of being the first school in America to reopen than partnering with New York Blood Center to support the amazing and life-saving work they provide to the entire community," Patrick Donohue, iBRAIN's founder and chairman, said in a news release.

The blood drive will run from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Institute's building at 311 East 94th St., between First and Second avenues. Anyone eligible is invited to donate, which takes about an hour.

"iBRAIN does incredible work for its students and families and we are proud to be partnering for a blood drive in honor of their reopening anniversary," said Andrea Cefarelli, the Blood Center's senior executive director.

"While it has been over one year since the pandemic spread across New York, our blood supply is still impacted by COVID-19 and we need more New Yorkers to come out and donate."