Page 6 - Boca ViewPointe - June '22
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Page 6, Viewpointe June 2022
Magen David Adom Opens Israel’s NEW
Marcus National Blood Services Center
By Yishai Mizrahi and Thomas R. Nides, U.S. Ambassador to Israel gathered The current national blood services facility in Ramat
in Ramle, Israel, to dedicate the world’s first underground, Gan was built in the 1980s and is not large enough to
Dear Friends, I come shielded blood center, named the Marcus National Blood meet the demands of Israel’s growing population or secure
to you this month to share Services Center. The center bears the name of Bernie Marcus, enough to meet the country’s needs in times of war. In
fantastic news. On May 2nd, the founder of Home Depot, and his wife, Billi. The American the past, during rocket attacks, MDA has had to cease
500 Magen David Adom philanthropists generously donated $35 million to the project. processing blood and move the country’s blood reserves
donors, friends and Israeli The event marked the moment of a dream becoming reality, into a bomb shelter, interrupting blood production at a time
dignitaries including President as this crucial endeavor had been in the making since 2015. when it might be needed most.
Isaac Herzog, Defense A first in its concept, design, engineering, and capabilities, In contrast, the new Marcus Center is shielded with
Minister Benny Gantz (Blue the facility was built at a cost of $135 million, funded primarily extra-thick concrete walls, blast doors, and airlocks, as
and White), Health Minister by American Friends of Magen David Adom (AFMDA). The well as biological and chemical protection that extends
Nitzan Horowitz (Meretz) new facility will double the country’s annual blood-processing across three subterranean floors. The three above-ground
capacity and will save tens of thousands of lives every year. floors house the Human Milk Bank, where mothers’ milk
is collected and pasteurized for premature and ill infants,
“On a visit many years ago to Israel’s blood bank, amid
Watch Your Speed! the missile and rocket attacks, I realized how delicate and as well as the blood donation center, administrative offices,
conference rooms, and dining halls.
vulnerable the blood system was,” recalled Bernie Marcus.
“I am happy that we participated, from the very start, in the The first underground floor houses shielded blood
Speeding fines are being construction of this wonderful building, where Israel’s blood bank laboratories, a transportation center, and secure fleet
enforced! Fine schedule: 6-20 supply will be protected for all its citizens, Jews, Christians, parking, where all new ambulances will be fully equipped.
mph over the limit $50 and more and Muslims alike.” The second underground floor houses the Umbilical
than 21 mph over the limit $100. Cord Blood Inventory for Stem Cell transplantation, an
Please obey the posted speed limit R&D molecular lab, and a chemical and biological warfare
signs and drive safely! air-filtration system that enables staff throughout the
building to continue working and processing blood in the
event of a chemical or biological attack.
At the heart of the third and deepest level lies the Blood
Vehicle Information Storage Vault, a 300-square-meter safe room shielded
against the most severe missile threats, in which Israel’s
strategic inventory of 25,000 blood components will be
If you have purchased a new vehicle within the past safeguarded in times of war.
6 months, please make sure the Boca Pointe Community Not only is the structure impervious to sophisticated
Association management office has a copy of your current terror attacks, but to earthquakes as well, as the State of
vehicle registration on file. Your gate transponder is linked Israel is situated on more than one fault line system, which
to your vehicle so it is important that we have accurate causes higher than normal seismic activity.
information in our system. Please fax it to (561) 395-5936 Magen David Adom, Israel’s National Emergency
or email it to admin@bocapointe.com. Medical and Ambulatory Service, is the sole blood
Thank you for your cooperation! supplier to all Israeli hospitals, and the entire Israel
Defense Forces (IDF). In turn, 25% of Israel’s blood
BPCA Management team supply, comes from the IDF.
On behalf of the People of Israel, and the 27,000
paramedics, EMT’s and emergency personnel working on
the front lines to save lives for Magen David Adom, we
thank you for your support of this once in a generation
critical piece of infrastructure, that will serve Israel for
decades to come.
For more information about the lifesaving work of
Magen David Adom, OR, if you or family members will be
in Israel and would like to tour our facilities and see MDA’s
work up close, please call: Yishai Mizrahi – Director
of Major Gifts for American Friends of Magen David
Adom in Boca Raton/Delray Beach at 561.571.6112 or
email YMizrahi@afmda.org.
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