MKBC
NEWS & Events

On Wednesday, April 9, Miller-Keystone Blood Center (MKBC) held its Winners Announcement and Wrap-up Celebration for the inaugural Blood Donor Madness competition. The celebration took place in the BSI Corporate Benefits Dugout Suite at Coca Cola Park, with the official announcement of the 2025 Blood Donor Madness champion occurring on the baseball field prior to the start of the Lehigh Valley IronPigs game.

Penn State Lehigh Valley was announced as the winner of the inaugural Blood Donor Madness event, designed to increase blood donations in the community by creating a fun, friendly competition between the colleges and universities in the Lehigh Valley. As the winner, Penn State Lehigh Valley is the recipient of a $10,000 gift to its scholarship program generously provided by BSI Corporate Benefits, as well as the official MKBC Blood Donor Madness trophy.

“10 Lehigh Valley colleges and universities participated in our 2025 Blood Donor Madness competition,” said Rami Nemeh, President & CEO, Hospital Central Services, Inc./Miller-Keystone Blood Center. “Thanks to their support, approximately 450 blood donations were made, impacting more than 1,000 lives in our community. We are grateful to all of the colleges and universities that participated in this year’s campaign, and we congratulate Penn State Lehigh Valley on being crowned as the 2025 Blood Donor Madness champion!”

MKBC’s Blood Donor Madness launched on Monday, January 13, and concluded on Friday, April 4. Over this 12-week period, participating colleges and universities in the Lehigh Valley competed with each other to see who would collect the most blood donations. The total number of blood donations for each institution was weighted, with each school given a goal of 4% of its total student population.

Full results of Miller-Keystone Blood Center’s 2025 Blood Donor Madness competition:

MKBC’s 2025 Blood Donor Madness competition was generously sponsored by BSI Corporate Benefits and Capital BlueCross. For additional information on this year’s competition, click here.

“Bloodhound I” Debuts on April 1 Thanks to Generous Support from The Fleming Foundation and EnerSys

A ribbon-cutting ceremony will take place at MKBC’s Bethlehem headquarters on April 1 to introduce its newest bloodmobile, Bloodhound I. Named in honor of MKBC’s mascot, Half-Pint the Bloodhound, the vehicle will expand the center’s ability to collect lifesaving blood donations throughout the region.

According to Rami Nemeh, President & CEO of Hospital Central Services, Inc. & its affiliates including Miller-Keystone Blood Center, the new bloodmobile will begin operations immediately and help to bolster the community blood supply by increasing donations via blood drives.

“Approximately 40% of our community’s blood supply comes from donations collected at blood drives hosted by local businesses, high schools, colleges, churches, community centers, and other organizations,” shared Nemeh, noting that Miller-Keystone Blood Center maintains a list of more than 2,000 community blood drive partners who together, conduct on average, about 1,000 blood drives annually.

“These organizations are essential in educating the community and creating opportunities for individuals to roll up their sleeves and donate the gift of life,” Nemeh added, confirming that Miller-Keystone Blood Center is currently raising funds to purchase four bloodmobiles, and that The Fleming Foundation and EnerSys of Reading have both generously contributed to funding Bloodhound I. Additional organizations have also made gifts to MKBC’s bloodmobile campaign, and will be recognized on plaques located inside all four vehicles when they are in operation.

He noted that the arrival of Bloodhound I enables MKBC to retire at least one of the Blood Center’s older vehicles, which has exceeded its life expectancy.

“While the primary mission of Miller-Keystone Blood Center is to collect and distribute lifesaving blood products to our regional hospitals, our ability to operate efficiently relies on the generous financial support of individuals and organizations within our community,” added Lina Barbieri, Chief Philanthropy Officer, MKBC.

Kathleen Arnold, Trustee of The Fleming Foundation, emphasized the importance of supporting MKBC’s efforts. “The Fleming Foundation is proud to support the Miller-Keystone Blood Center and the critical service they provide to our local and surrounding communities. The new and modernized bloodmobiles are state-of-the-art and will ensure MKBC can continue to provide first-class comfort and convenience to their valued blood donors for years to come.”

“We are sincerely grateful to The Fleming Foundation and EnerSys for their generosity toward this first bloodmobile.” said Barbieri. “Their generosity, coupled with the generosity of other organizations who have made important gifts to this campaign, demonstrates their commitment not only to Miller-Keystone Blood Center but also to the health and well-being of our entire community.”

For more information on supporting Miller-Keystone Blood Center with a financial gift, click here; or to schedule your lifesaving blood donation, click here.

Officials from Miller-Keystone Blood Center (MKBC) and the County of Lehigh are proud to announce the awarding of a $250,000 grant designated for the purchase of a new community bloodmobile vehicle.

“We recognize the lifesaving work that Miller-Keystone Blood Center brings to our community and Lehigh County citizens,” said Philips Armstrong, Lehigh County Executive. “Lehigh County is excited to provide this grant in support of Miller-Keystone Blood Center’s ongoing mission of saving lives by partnering with the community to provide a continuous supply of blood product and services.”

According to Rami Nemeh, President & CEO of Hospital Central Services, Inc. & its affiliates including Miller-Keystone Blood Center, the new bloodmobile will help to bolster the community blood supply by increasing donations via blood drives. “Approximately 40% of our community’s blood supply comes from donations collected at blood drives hosted by local businesses, high schools, colleges, churches, community centers, and other organizations,” shared Nemeh. He said that Miller-Keystone Blood Center maintains a list of more than 2,000 community blood drive partners, with 386 active groups in Lehigh County alone.

“These organizations are essential in educating the community and creating opportunities for individuals to roll up their sleeves and donate the gift of life,” Nemeh added, explaining that during the pandemic, the Blood Center faced a sharp decline in blood donations through mobile drives due to shutdowns and stay-at-home orders.

“As we have moved into the post-pandemic era, we are seeing a shift back to a ‘mobile-drive culture’,” he said. Nemeh added that the Blood Center provides more than 100,000 transfusable blood products to our regional hospitals annually, with about 40% collected at mobile blood drive locations.

“We host blood drives seven days per week,” he stated, confirming that adding this new vehicle enables MKBC to retire at least one of the Blood Center’s older vehicles, which has exceeded its life expectancy.

“Every two seconds, someone in the United States needs blood,” he noted. “This poses an enormous challenge for community blood centers as we are faced with the ongoing, critical task of recruiting new and additional blood donors, and ensuring that a safe and constant supply of blood products is available for cancer patients, accident victims, premature infants and others in need of lifesaving transfusions at our regional hospitals.”

“While the primary mission of Miller-Keystone Blood Center is to collect and distribute lifesaving blood products to our regional hospitals, our ability to operate efficiently relies on the generous financial support of individuals and organizations within our community,” added Lina Barbieri, Chief Philanthropy Officer, MKBC.

“We are sincerely grateful to the Honorable Philips Armstrong, County Council and the residents of the County of Lehigh for their partnership and generosity,” said Ms. Barbieri. “This grant, which supports the purchase of a new community bloodmobile, reflects their commitment not only to Miller-Keystone Blood Center but also to the health and well-being of our entire community.”

The new bloodmobile vehicle is expected to be placed in-service in the Lehigh Valley in late 2026.

For more information on the grant presentation or new community bloodmobile, contact Lina Barbieri, Chief Philanthropy Officer, at lbarbieri@giveapint.org; or for more information on hosting a blood drive at your location, call 800.223.6667 and ask to speak with someone in Donor Relations.

Miller-Keystone Blood Center recently launched its Universal Hero Club, which recognizes and rewards our “O” red blood cell donors and “AB” plasma donors.

The red blood cells from an O-negative donor, and/or or the plasma from an AB (positive/negative) donor can be transfused to anyone in need, regardless of blood type. Additionally, the red blood cells from an O-positive donor can be transfused to any patient with an Rh-positive blood type. These blood and plasma donations are especially important in accident/trauma cases, where there may not be time to identify a patient’s specific blood type.

________________________________

Our Universal Hero Club is an
opt-in program; donors are not automatically
enrolled, they must voluntarily join.
________________________________

Blood or plasma donors reaching his/her annual commitment receive a special MKBC gift when their pledge is fulfilled. Donors exceeding their annual pledge commitment have the opportunity to earn a $25 e-gift card. x

For additional details or to join our Universal Hero Club, click here.

Officials from Miller-Keystone Blood Center (MKBC) and the County of Northampton proudly announce the awarding of a $250,000 grant designated for the purchase of a new community bloodmobile vehicle. The grant presentation took place during a press conference at the Northampton County Court of Common Pleas, located at 669 Washington Street in Easton.

According to Northampton County Executive Lamont McClure, this new partnership between the county and MKBC “has been developed to help address an ongoing blood shortage by increasing donations via blood drives, which have been shown to play a critical role in reaching potential donors.”

Miller-Keystone Blood Center maintains a list of nearly 1,900 community partners that run blood drives throughout the year, with about 283 active donor groups in Northampton County alone. These businesses, churches, and schools play a vital role in providing education and enabling access for those who wish to roll up their sleeves and give the gift of life. During the pandemic, with schools and businesses closed and people staying home, the Blood Center witnessed a severe decline in blood donations through mobile drives. However, moving into the post-pandemic era, there is a shift back to a “mobile-drive culture.”

Rami Nemeh, MKBC’s Chief Operating Officer explained that the Blood Center provides more than 100,000 transfusable blood products to our regional hospitals annually, with 37% of the community blood supply collected at mobile blood drive locations, moving toward a full 40% as we return to pre-pandemic blood drive levels.
“These blood drives take place 7 days per week, 365 days per year at schools, churches, businesses and other organizations throughout our community,” he said, noting that upon its arrival, the new bloodmobile will be added to the MKBC bloodmobile fleet allowing the retirement of at least one of the vehicles which has exceeded its life expectancy.

Nemeh added that “every two seconds, someone in the United States needs blood, and one in seven people entering the hospital will require a blood transfusion. This poses an enormous challenge for community blood centers as we are faced with the ongoing, critical task of recruiting new and additional blood donors, and ensuring that a safe and constant supply of blood products is available for cancer patients, accident victims, premature infants and others in need of lifesaving transfusions at our regional hospitals.”

Mr. Nemeh noted that an additional concern is a generational gap in the mindset of today’s blood donors. In recent years, blood donations in the US from individuals aged 16-18 have decreased by 60%, and those from individuals aged 19-24 have decreased by 32%.

“Nationally, nearly 60% of blood donations come from individuals over the age of 40, and almost 45% are from those aged over 50,” he explained. “Locally, the numbers are even more alarming, as 86% of MKBC’s donor population is over the age of 55. These statistics are concerning, as blood donations from younger generations are pivotal for the stability and diversification of the blood supply.”

“While blood collection from individuals is the primary function and mission of Miller-Keystone Blood Center and is the cornerstone of its reputation, it is the generous financial support of individuals and organizations in our community that allows our facility to function optimally,” added Lina Barbieri, Chief Philanthropy Officer, MKBC. “We are sincerely grateful to the Honorable Lamont McClure, County Council and the residents of the County of Northampton for their partnership and generosity,” said Ms. Barbieri. “This grant in support of a new community bloodmobile demonstrates their commitment not only to Miller-Keystone Blood Center, but to the health and welfare of our entire community.”

The new bloodmobile vehicle is expected to be placed in-service in the Lehigh Valley in mid to late 2025.

For more information on the grant presentation or new community bloodmobile, contact Lina Barbieri, Chief Philanthropy Officer, at lbarbieri@giveapint.org; or for more information on hosting a blood drive at your location, call 800.223.6667 and ask to speak with someone in Donor Relations.

Miller-Keystone Blood Center (MKBC) has announced the launch of the Center’s new mobile app, available to both Android and Apple mobile device users. The new app, created by national blood bank vendor, Invita, officially launched on Monday, June 17.

“43% of baby boomers and 66% of Generation X use mobile devices,” says Keith Vogrin, Director of Marketing, MKBC. “Those numbers increase to 72% for Generation Y and 82% for Generation Z, which verifies that one of the most convenient and effective ways to connect with individuals under the age of 45 is through a mobile device.”

Mr. Vogrin notes that in recent years, blood donations in the US from individuals aged 16-18 have decreased by 60%, and those from individuals aged 19-24 have decreased by 32%.

“These figures are concerning,” he explains. “Currently, nearly 60% of blood donations come from individuals over the age of 40, and almost 45% are from those aged over 50. Locally, the numbers are even more alarming, as 86% of MKBC’s donor population is over the age of 55.  These statistics are significant, as blood donations from younger generations are pivotal for the stability and diversification of the blood supply.”

While the app will be utilized by donors of all ages, younger donors – who predominantly use handheld devices – will be find it immediately useful, Mr. Vogrin adds noting that MKBC’s new app will provide convenience for blood donors, with a connection to their community blood center at their fingertips.

Features of MKBC’s new mobile app include:

• Immediate access to one’s eligibility date
• Appointment scheduling at one’s fingertips
• Completing one’s donor history questionnaire from a mobile device
• Convenient access to one’s past donation history and mini-health check results 
• Completing a post-donation survey directly from one’s mobile device
• Tracking rewards points and redeeming in MKBC’s online store

x

To download Miller-Keystone Blood Center’s new mobile app, visit the Apple Store or Google Play today. Once set-up, you can schedule your lifesaving blood donation through the app or by calling 800-B-A-DONOR (223-6667) ext. 2.

On July 1, Miller-Keystone Blood Center launched its Frequent Lifesaver Club, a new and improved rewards program for our dedicated blood donors.

“Our Frequent Lifesaver Club recognizes and rewards our dedicated donors for saving lives through the generous act of voluntary blood donation,” said Rami Nemeh, Chief Operating Officer, MKBC. “A donor earns points every time they donate. Simply put, the more often someone donates, the more points they will earn.”

________________________________

Our Frequent Lifesaver Club is an
opt-in program; donors are not automatically
enrolled, they must voluntarily join by logging
into their online donor portal.
________________________________

There are two components to MKBC’s Frequent Lifesaver Club:

• Rewards Points – Rewards points can be redeemed at any time in one’s donor portal. These points can be exchanged for gifts such as t-shirts or a duffle bag, as well as wide variety of e-gift cards. Bonus point days will also be announced periodically.
• Club Levels – Club Levels are based on the number of times someone donates over the course of 12 months. The more times one donates, the higher their club level will be. One’s Club Level will determine the value of periodic drawings MKBC announces for valuable prizes, including gift cards, experiences, merchandise and more.

x

For additional details, visit GIVEaPINT.org.

Monthly Blood Collections To Take Place At BSI Corporate Benefits Headquarters

Miller-Keystone Blood Center recently held that a ribbon cutting ceremony at the Center’s new satellite location on the grounds of BSI Corporate Benefits – 205 Webster Street, Bethlehem. This new South Side Community location will host blood drives on the second Friday of each month, from 8:00 AM – 2:00 PM.

Offering comments at the ribbon cutting ceremony were Valerie Lewis, Chief Operating Officer, BSI Corporate Benefits; Rami Nemeh, Chief Operating Officer, Miller-Keystone Blood Center; and the Honorable J. William Reynolds, Mayor of Bethlehem.

The United States is in the midst of the most critical national blood shortage in history, and regional blood supplies have been below preferred inventory levels for more than two years. The addition of a collections site in South Bethlehem is expected to help to bolster the regional blood supply.

To schedule a donation at this location, call 800-B-A-DONOR (223-6667) ext. 2 or visit here to schedule online.

or more information on the upcoming ribbon-cutting event, contact Dara Gonzalez, Community Liaison, at dagonzalez@giveapint.org.

On Wednesday, January 25, 2023, representatives from Miller-Keystone Blood Center and the Highmark Foundation held a press conference to announce the presentation of a two-year, $120,000 grant to underwrite MKBC’s Diversity Initiative. Pete Castagna, President & CEO of Miller-Keystone Blood Center, and Jane Brooks, Regional Manager of Community Affairs, Highmark Foundation, greeting guests at MKBC’s Hamilton Donor Center location in Allentown, acknowledging that this two-year partnership will help improve the overall health of the community, which includes increasing critically needed blood donations. According to Mr. Castagna, the Blood Center’s Diversity Initiative is an example of MKBC deepening its roots i n the downtown Allentown area, recruiting talent to assist in educating the community and strengthening the diversity of the blood supply for the hospitals and ultimately the patients that we serve.” For additional details on the importance of a diverse blood supply, click here.