Yankees Contribute $500K to Tornado Relief Efforts in Southern United States

The New York Yankees donated $500,000 to support relief efforts in the tornado ravaged southern region of the United States. Of the total, $250,000 was allocated to The Salvation Army and $250,000 to The American Red Cross.

"On behalf of the entire New York Yankees organization, we would like to express our deepest condolences to all those affected by the devastating storms in Alabama and throughout the South," said New York Yankees General Partner and Vice Chairperson Jennifer Steinbrenner Swindal. "During the most difficult of times, the resiliency of the American spirit brings people together. We are eager to join so many others in helping to rebuild these proud and vibrant southern communities. In the days, weeks and months ahead, we will continue to keep everyone in our hearts and prayers."

New York Blood Center

The New York Yankees and the New York Blood Center established a partnership to address the issue of the declining blood donor population. As a result, the New York Yankees High-School Blood Donor Championship was initiated. High-schools based in the metropolitan area are provided with incentives (tickets, promotional items, etc.) to motivate staff and students 16 years or older to donate blood at their school blood drives. The total number of donations collected at each school competing in the Blood Donor Championship is tallied at the end of the academic year, and the top schools are invited to attend a game at Yankee Stadium and are honored in a pre-game ceremony on-field. Since the program's inception in 1996, approximately 650,000 donations have been made, providing patients in New York, New Jersey and Connecticut-based hospitals with almost two-million life-saving blood products.

In response to the drastic drop in blood donations associated with Hurricane Irene, the New York Yankees and the New York Blood Center teamed-up to administer numerous blood drives throughout the tri-state area and implement an incentive program to enhance donations. Approximately four thousand two hundred tickets to various New York Yankees 2012 regular season home games were donated by the Yankees organization to support the effort. In recognition of each donors' espouse/commitment, they were provided with 2 tickets to attend a game at Yankee Stadium. Exceeding the New York Blood Centers goal by 577 donors, the united effort inspired 2,187 individuals to donate blood.