Heather McNamara Leadership and Blood Donation Advocacy Scholarship 

The Heather McNamara Leadership and Blood Donation Advocacy Scholarship recognizes excellence and outstanding community service to New York Blood Center (NYBC). 

Heather McNamara was a longtime friend of NYBC and a tireless advocate for blood donations. She often attended NYBC events and spoke with local media to share her story as a blood recipient who relied on transfusions throughout her courageous battle with cancer. This scholarship honors Heather’s memory by recognizing individuals who have shown exceptional leadership and dedication to saving lives by promoting the importance of blood donation, either through personal advocacy or organizing impactful community service initiatives.

These efforts can take a variety of forms, including but not limited to:

• Establishing a legacy blood donor campaign;
• Organizing multiple community or academic blood drives;
• Raising awareness about the need for blood donations through marketing or promotional activities;
• Recruiting and partnering with other leaders and organizations to support blood donation.

Eligibility Criteria:

• Applicant must be a current high school senior or undergraduate student supporting blood donation efforts in New York or New Jersey.
• Applicant must have demonstrated leadership in community service supporting or advocating for voluntary blood donations (e.g., organizing blood drives, speaking at events, or using personal stories to raise awareness).
• Applicant must submit the enclosed application form, and a letter of reference, along with a 250-word essay describing their qualifications for the scholarship.

Examples of eligible candidates include, but are not limited to:

• A blood recipient who uses their personal story to advocate for voluntary blood donations through media appearances, social media campaigns, or public speaking engagements.
• A high school or college student who has created or maintained a legacy program to ensure their school consistently organizes blood drives.
• A high school or college student who recruits others (e.g., elected officials, community and business leaders) to advocate for blood donation.

Award Amount: $2,500

Application Deadline: Friday, March 28, 2025