Initially recruiting in the Northeast, The Icla da Silva Foundation has successfully expanded its recruitment services to Puerto Rico, Atlanta, Orlando and Miami. The foundation also has developed educational videos of patients appealing to the community to join the Be The Match Registry, as well as marrow donors sharing their personal experience.

“The Icla da Silva Foundation has consistently demonstrated a tremendous commitment to the NMDP by implementing impactful education and awareness campaigns within minority communities,” said Jeffrey W. Chell, M.D., chief executive officer of the NMDP. “These efforts will make a difference in the lives of many patients and their families for years to come.”

“It was 19 years ago that my 13-year-old sister died of leukemia. My family came from Brazil, looking for the best doctor, the best hospital in the world to try to save her life. Unfortunately, she was not able to find a matched donor,” said Airam da Silva, on behalf of The Icla da Silva Foundation. “After my sister passed away, we continued to volunteer. We thank you for your support over the years. We will continue to work to save more lives.” 

About the National Marrow Donor Program (NMDP)

As a leader in the field of unrelated marrow and umbilical cord blood transplantation, the National Marrow Donor Program (NMDP) is dedicated to ensuring all patients who need a transplant receive access to this potentially life-saving treatment. Headquartered in Minneapolis, the nonprofit organization has been entrusted by the federal government through the C.W. Bill Young Transplantation Program to operate the national registry, publicly known as the Be The Match Registry, which provides a single point of access for transplant centers and patients to marrow donors and cord blood units. The organization also facilitates transplants worldwide; supports a global network of hospitals, blood centers, public cord blood banks, laboratories and recruitment centers; conducts research; and provides education and support to patients, donors and health care professionals. The NMDP has facilitated more than 40,000 transplants since operation began in 1987. For more information, visit www.marrow.org or call 1 (800) MARROW-2.