Published: 10-20-08
Foundation raises $400000 for Texas Cord Blood Bank
The South Texas Blood & Tissue Center Foundation raised more than $400000 for the Texas Cord Blood Bank over the weekend during its 5th annual Red & White Ball.
Since the Texas Cord Bank was founded by the Texas Legislature 10 hospitals have collected more than 3000 cord blood units making the Texas Cord Blood Bank a growing resource in the fight against cancer and severe blood disorders.
Cord blood is an alternative to bone marrow transplantation for the treatment of leukemia lymphomas and sickle cell anemia. The Texas Cord Blood Bank takes donations of healthy discarded umbilical cord blood that provides blood-making cells for use in life-saving transplants.
The foundation honored several essential supporters and fundraisers at the Ball notably Texas Railroad Commissioner Elizabeth Ames Jones who received the 2008 Chairman’s Award for her efforts in co-authoring legislation in the Texas House of Representatives that provided initial state funding needed to establish the Texas Cord Blood Bank.
The nonprofit foundation supports the South Texas Blood & Tissue Center and its Texas Cord Blood Bank division.
Fundraising efforts have allowed for the Cord Bank’s substantial growth including the addition of participating hospitals in Dallas Houston the Rio Grande Valley and throughout San Antonio.
