Family Honors Son’s Memory Through Blood Drives

WARWICK, NY — The New York Blood Center will be hosting a blood drive Sunday in memory of Danny Battista, whose family has sponsored annual drives to honor him.

The drive will be held from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sunday, July 23 at St. Stephen’s Parish Community Center, 228 West St. in Warwick.

Throughout his life, Battista had a passion for saving lives, his family said. He even registered as an organ donor to give back to his community.

For the past several years, his loved ones have honored his life, his memory and how much he gave to others by hosting blood drives.

Reached for comment, Judy and Rocco Battista told Patch that, in 2008, they received the news that Danny took his life at the age of 20.

They said that the causes leading to anyone’s suicide are complex and varied.

“We know that having a mental health condition, if left untreated, can affect anyone, of any age,” the Battistas said.

They wanted to honor their son’s wishes to donate his organs — he had signed his driver’s license to be a donor — but because of circumstances that wasn’t possible.

Judy Battista said she and her husband became mental health and suicide prevention advocates, doing community outreach and educating others about the stigma that surrounds mental health and what signs to look for.

“We hope that no other families lose a loved one,” she said. “Mental health is physical health, and suicide is preventable.”

The Battistas said that the first year after Danny’s death they wanted to do something special in his memory — to help save lives — especially since he couldn’t be an organ donor.

Judy Batista said they received three different signs that hosting a blood drive was the answer: parking next to a bloodmobile truck with a memorial mural of someone who died on 9/11; being passed on the Thruway by a New York Blood Center truck that had “Donate blood, the gift of life” as a message on the back, and receiving a call from a friend at the blood center who was asking about recruiting volunteers.

“And that pretty much sealed it,” she said.

The first blood drive was organized and held in October 2008. The drives continued, and this year the 14th annual drive will be held at Danny’s parochial school.

“The satisfaction, the accomplishments and the feeling of hosting these blood drives are immeasurable,” the Battistas said.

“To see so many people come to donate throughout the years — to give the Gift of Life and help others in need — and to know that my son’s legacy will continue in this form,” Judy Battista said.

“Not only has it been healing for our family and friends,” she said, “but also to others who donate in memory of a very special young man.”

More than 570 units of blood have been collected through the Battistas’ efforts.

A single donation can save multiple lives, according to a blood center spokesperson.

Blood donors can give every 56 days, and platelet donors can give twice a month. To view current eligibility guidelines, visit nybc.org or call 800-688-0900.

To make an appointment at this blood drive, donors can call 1-800-933-2566 or visit this link. Can’t donate blood? You can still support NYBC’s mission by texting ‘NYBC’ to ‘20222’ to give $25.