In recognition of their efforts to raise and donate blood, 2,700 students from 16 metropolitan area winning high schools of the "2003-04 Yankees High School Blood Donor Championships" were honored today at Yankee Stadium, just prior to the Bronx-bomber's game against the Baltimore Orioles. This year's contest, the eighth since the competition's inception in 1996, resulted in over 35,000 pints of blood donated to New York Blood Center from New York and New Jersey high school students, bringing total championships' donations to over 240,000.

Deputy Bronx Borough President Earl Brown also attended the ceremony to honor the students as Bronx High School of Science, one of the winning schools, is the first Bronx school to be a winner in the Championships. The students-who donated blood and recruited donors throughout the 2003-04 school year-were honored during an on-field banner presentation for their school's collective lifesaving achievements. Following the presentation, the 2,700 students representing the winning schools watched the New York Yankees take on the Baltimore Orioles.

"We are very grateful that the New York Yankees have continued to support New York Blood Center by sponsoring this competition for the past eight years," said Dr. Robert Jones, New York Blood Center president and Chief Executive Officer. "The competition helps instill the importance of community service, especially the life-giving value of blood donation at a young age, which will hopefully inspire and create a future generation of donors. Each of the competition participants have accomplished a great service and on behalf of all the lives that will be saved, the New York Blood Center would like to say thank you."

High schools from Manhattan, Bronx, Brooklyn, Staten Island, Long Island, Hudson Valley and New Jersey won top honors in the following categories:

Most Donations - Bayard Rustin High School for the Humanities (Manhattan), Newburgh Free Academy (Newburgh, NY), Hunterdon Central High School (Flemington, NJ), Chaminade High School (Mineola, NY), and Yeshiva of Flatbush (Brooklyn);

Greatest Number of Donations Per Senior Class Size - Bayard Rustin High School for the Humanities (Manhattan), Rhinebeck High School (Rhinebeck, NY), Middlesex High School (Middlesex, NJ), Mattituck High School (Mattituck, NJ) and Automotive High School (Brooklyn);

Largest Increase Over Prior Year - LaGuardia High School (Manhattan), Bronx High School of Science (Bronx), South River High School (South River, NJ), Deer Park High School (Deer Park, NY) and Curtis High School (Staten Island); and

Rookie of the Year - Harmony Christian School (Middletown, NY).

Hospitals in New York and New Jersey require 2,000 blood donations each day. Currently, the New York/New Jersey community is facing its worst blood shortage ever this summer and is predicted to experience life-threatening shortages of all blood types.

Blood donors must be at least age 17, weigh a minimum of 110 pounds, be in good general health and not have donated in the prior 56 days. High schools interested in participating in the 2004-05 Yankees High School Blood Donor Championships starting this fall can contact Jean Dutton, manager of programs, New York Blood Center at 212-570-3375. To locate a convenient donation location, the public can call New York Blood Center at 1-800-933-BLOOD or go to www.nybloodcenter.org.