Tom and Katherine took approximately 3 hours to complete the course, using a combination of subways, cabs, and sprinting to dash past their fellow competitors. Overcome with joy and surprise, Tom dropped to one knee and said, “Kat, I’d run anywhere with you.” Ironically, this wasn’t the first time the two had participated in such an event. “Kat and I love games and one of our first dates was a race around New York where we really bonded as a couple,” said Tom. “When we saw the Diamond Dash advertised, we knew it was meant to be. When we actually won we just couldn’t believe our luck!”

The couple was greeted by the Fina family, who presented them with a 1.52 carat Tacori diamond in a classic Tacori engagement ring setting. It fit Katherine’s finger perfectly. “It has always been our belief that diamonds make a difference in everyone’s lives, and I think it’s safe to say this one will always remind Tom and Katherine of their dedication to one another,” said Steven Fina, VP of Michael C. Fina.

Also in attendance was Michael Osso, Executive Director of the New York City Chapter of The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, which proceeds of the dash benefited. Dashers were encouraged to donate $100.00 to the society in lieu of a registration fee. Nearly $3,000 was raised.

Event kick-off took place at 12:00 noon at Battery Park and text messaged clues led couples to various wedding-related destinations around Manhattan including Michael C. Fina, Hearst, John Allan, Tumi, Godiva Chocolatier, Ron Ben-Israel, Kleinfeld, and mad46. Pier 17, which is the start of The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society’s annual Light the Night Walk, was also included in the route.

All dashers were invited back to Michael C. Fina upon the event’s conclusion to enjoy passed hors d’oeuvres, a selection of Godiva chocolates, and a cake tasting compliments of Ron Ben-Israel. If dashers chose to purchase a Tacori engagement ring that night, a special offer was provided.

Michael C. Fina will continue to demonstrate that diamonds do make a difference through December 31, 2009 by donating $100 to The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society for each engagement ring purchased.  (source  PRNewswire)

Retail jeweler Michael C. Fina will join forces with Diamond jewelry designer Tacori to host ‘Diamond Dash: Dash for a Diamond & a Cure’ – a city-wide diamond scavenger hunt for charity, scheduled to take place in Manhattan, NY on September 12. Diamond Dash will include over $600,000 in prizes and the proceeds of the event will be donated to the Leukemia Lymphoma Society, which jewelry retailer Michael C. Fine supports on a national level.

Steven Fina, vice president of retail jeweler Michael C. Fina stated: “Michael C. Fina is honored to host the ‘Diamond Dash: Dash for a Diamond a Cure.’ We strive to bring awareness to the LLS while demonstrating how diamonds make a difference in everyone’s lives.”

Up to 1,000 teams will participate in the diamond dash and use clues that will guide them to jewelry stores and bridal shops across New York City. The first couple to reach the ultimate destination will receive a handcrafted Tacori engagement ring setting matched with a Tacori Diamond, both valued at some $20,000. Tacori Senior Vice President of Sales and Marketing Paul Tacorian stated: “We are thrilled to exclusively launch our Tacori diamond in New York with Michael C. Fina as part of the Diamond Dash.”

National Minority Donor Awareness Day is August 1, and New York Blood Center (NYBC) and its regions in Manhattan, Long Island, Hudson Valley, Brooklyn/Staten Island, and New Jersey call on the community to help us meet the great need for blood from diverse donors.

Historically, National Minority Donor Awareness Day emphasized minority organ and tissue donation, but blood donation remains the most widely used gift of life. Organ and tissue transplant procedures cannot take place without adequate blood supplies, and many patients have unique blood needs that can only be met by blood donors of the same ethnic or racial background.

Every two seconds, someone needs blood. Your community blood supply is a lifeline for you, your family, neighbors, and friends. NYBC serves one of the most diverse areas in the nation making it imperative that we not only maintain an ample blood supply, but also collect blood that closely mirrors the diversity of the communities we serve. A shortage of diverse blood donors can seriously jeopardize patient care.

Currently, NYBC donors are 71% White, 8.4% Hispanic/Latino, 6.8% Black/African American, and 4.6% Asian/Pacific Islander. Unfortunately, this does not mirror the diversity of our patient population.

The goal of New York Blood Center’s PreciseMatch(R) Program is to ensure diverse communities have access to the most precisely matched blood products whenever patients might need them. Some chronically transfused patients, such as those with sickle cell disease, thalassemia, cancer or leukemia, pregnant women and newborn babies, can build up antibodies following frequent transfusions and may “reject” a transfusion or have a bad transfusion reaction. These patients require a precisely-matched transfusion from someone who has inherited the same antigens, or markers, in their blood. Like eye color, or other inherited characteristics, this “precise match” blood is most often found in someone from the same ethnic or racial background.

Please give blood today. You can also help patients in need by organizing a blood drive in your community, house of worship, or place of work. People can give blood every 56 days.

To donate blood, please call:

Toll Free: 1-800-933-2566

Visit: www.nybloodcenter.org

Why not schedule your very own blood drive – contact:

Queens/Long Island            Karen Muscolino              516-478-5038
Kmuscolino@nybloodcenter.org

Manhattan                     Patty Killeen                646-812-9014
Pkilleen@nybloodcenter.org

Brooklyn/Staten Island        Wally Farraj                 718-797-7825
Wfarraj@nybloodcenter.org

Bronx/Hudson Valley           Andrea Cefarelli             914-784-4639
Acefarelli@nybloodcenter.org

New Jersey                    Marie Forrestal              732-220-7184
Mforrestal@nybloodcenter.org