WASHINGTON — The U.S. Postal Service is known for delivering mail and packages throughout America, but did you know it is the largest contributor to the National Marrow Donor Program’s (NMDP) Be The Match Registry?
Thousands of patients with leukemia, lymphoma and other life-threatening blood diseases need donor matches for a bone marrow or blood cell transplants, yet there is only a 30 percent chance of patients’ finding matches within their own families. And for minorities, the possibility is drastically less. The Postal Service leverages the country’s second largest civilian workforce — and one of the most diverse — by delivering hope to patients that a life-saving match can be found.
“Our Delivering the Gift of Life campaign has been one of our best investments over the years, adding more than 53,000 potential volunteer donors to the Be The Match Registry,” said Postmaster General John E. Potter. “What reward could possibly be more valuable than life? I was there at our first drive in Baltimore in 1997 when we joined forces with Rod Carew, the Marrow Foundation and the National Marrow Donor Program. It makes me proud to know our employees believe in the spirit of community, and their generosity and self-sacrifice continue to amaze me.”
The Postal Service was honored by Be the Match Foundation (the fundraising arm of the NMDP) last year with the very first “Rod Carew Award for Leadership” for its efforts to stem diseases of the blood and immune system and for having saved more lives — 80 — than any other business organization in the country.
Embarking on the 14th year of this collaborative recruitment initiative, the Postal Service, NMDP and Be The Match Foundation work tirelessly to offer people an opportunity to save lives and kindle hope where none may have existed. Postal Service employees, their spouses and dependents, ages 18 and older, are eligible to participate through the Delivering the Gift of Life campaign at no cost for type-testing of tissue.
Any person of any race or ethnicity who is 18-60 years old and meets donation health guidelines can become a potential volunteer donor. Interested postal employees who are not currently part of the registry can send an e-mail to marrowcampaign@usps.gov. Others who want to help or become a part of the Be The Match Registry can go to www.bethematch.org for more information.
2 thoughts on “Beyond Mail: U.S. Postal Service Delivers Hope Through Marrow Donor Program”
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Postal employees get nothing but disrespect. Their own managers hate them and trest them badly. Headquarters gives them lipservice as to how much they are “appreciated” yet condones and promotes treating their own employees like they are worthless. Congress is refuses to act even though there have been numerous shootings due to the destructive way management treats the employees in all jobs. Now Congress has decided to steal the money (see Social Security) the Post Office has to make the deficit look smaller, using it as a slush fund. The management abuse of the employees has increased, the letter carriers are working into the night as management has refused to hire even temporary employees though the mail volume has picked up.
When will Congress take their responsibility to the Postal Service employees seriously and remember that postal employees are American citizens too and relieve them of the “third world” working conditions?
Not only does the Postal Service excel due to the hard work of employees, but also boasts being the most trusted government agency and now the largest contributor to the National Marrow Donor Program. The Service recently also solicited participation from employees in the CFC and more specifically the Postal Employees Relief Fund. Employees are usually willing to go the extra mile in these types of situations. How are the employees repaid? By going to the bargaining table in contract negotiations and being asked to take reductions in pay and benefits.