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Kaufman Astoria Studios takes part in global campaign supporting blood donations

Kaufman Astoria Studios takes part in global campaign supporting blood donations
Courtesy of Kaufman Astoria Studios
By Bill Parry

The sign above the Hollywood-style main gate to Kaufman Astoria Studios which was added to the film and television production facility in December 2015 may look like its fallen into a state of disrepair as the two light blue A’s in Kaufman have gone dark. Studio officials say the outage is intentional, and for a life-saving cause.

The studio is among other iconic buildings across the city including Morgan Stanley, the Hard Rock Cafe, City University of New York and National Grid that are taking part in the global Missing Type Campaign to highlight the importance of donating blood and maintaining a steady supply for future generations.

Throughout the global “Missing Type” campaign, A’s B’s and O’s the letters of the main blood groups, will disappear in everyday and iconic locations in the city with the help and support of organizations and local businesses. Letters will be disappearing in Australia, Japan, Ireland, England and many more countries as well and rap star LL Cool J, who grew up in Hollis, is supporting the campaign supported locally by the New York Blood Center.

“New York Blood Center is very proud to be part of the international Missing Type campaign, which has the power to raise awareness globally on the every day need for blood, especially O, which is the universal blood type and is always in short supply,” NYBC Vice President Robert Purvis said. “The campaign couldn’t happen at a better time, as August is such a high vacation month.”

NYBC and Lauren Shields, a 16-year-old blood recipient who needed life-saving blood transfusions during her heart transplant in 2009, rang the opening bell at the New York Stock Exchange last week in support of the campaign, which was first held in England and North Wales in 2015. This year 25 blood services from 21 countries, covering one billion of the world’s population, are taking part in the movement.

“We need people to come out and support one another. By donating blood and your time, you are saving someone’s life, just like mine,” Lauren said. “Blood is needed for transfusions during organ transplants or when someone is undergoing chemotherapy. Without blood and people who donated I would not be here today.”

Reach reporter Bill Parry by e-mail at bparry@cnglocal.com or by phone at (718) 260–4538.