P.O.L. to host Bone Marrow Drive at The Synergy Career Conference at Brooklyn Marriott - 11/22/13

The Synergy Entertainment Career Conference

Brooklyn Marriott 

333 Adams St., Brooklyn, NY 11201 

Friday, November 22nd 2013

 6:00 pm - 9:30 pm

Tickets: Students $15.00, General $25.00, VIP $50.00

Tickets can be purchased: www.wearesynergyentertainment.com

Preserve Our Legacy, Inc. has created a niche in the music industry by implementing “edu-taining” information with bone marrow registration during industry events.  Synergy Entertainment will be hosting a career conference with resources available for entrepreneurs pursuing their dreams.  A portion of the proceeds will benefit four (4) organizations.  The bone marrow drive will be hosted during the event. 

For more information about Preserve Our Legacy please contact 877.778.3623 ext.702, Shana Melius. For more Media Inquiries or information about Synergy Entertainment email: wearesynergyentertainment@gmail.com.

Synergy Entertainment

In 2013, Founder, Shyra Johnson, an entrepreneur, started Synergy Entertainment to ignite the passion back for people to pursue their career goals.   Synergy Entertainment ignites a fire, encouraging professionals to achieve their dreams and build bridges within the multifaceted entertainment industry throughstrategic partnership and networking.  Companies and attendees work in television, film, music, journalism, politics, radio,design, technology, media, education and gaming industries.  “As an entrepreneur I faced doubt, discouragement and distractions.  I just kept God first and persevered through the many obstacles that came my way.  Therefore, I reach out to individuals within the industry that could provide additional insight.  I wanted to help others individuals and encourage them that dreams are possible by providing them with beneficial resources, hence, The Synergy Entertainment Career Conference”, says CEO Shyra Johnson.  This event will include a panel discussion for industry veterans such as Music industry mogul Meda Leacock, VH1 Gossip Game’s Ms. Drama, Inside Edition’s Lena Cohen, Industry Photographer Ronnie Wright, Atlantic Records Legal Executive Suzen Baraka and many more.  Hosted by RJ Harper and Music by DJ Queen of Spades.

Preserve Our Legacy, Inc.

In 2007, after the devastating loss of a friends’ 3-year son, Jaden Hilton, Brett and Shana Melius co-founded Preserve Our Legacy, Inc.  Preserve Our Legacy, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit, whose mission is to educate individuals, especially those from various ethnic groups, about the benefits of stem cells through treatment options provided via peripheral blood stem cells (PBSC), bone marrow and umbilical cord blood donations.  We will provide educational resources needed to focus on early detection, whichcan lead to prompt treatment, which can improve the chances of a productive life and beneficial, healthy outcome.  In2010, Preserve Our Legacy launched the first educational program of its kind, P.O.L. Umbilical Cord Blood Program at Harlem Hospital.  The Melius’ co-wrote New Jersey legislation - Jaden’s Law, to increase awareness about PBSC and bone marrow donation within various ethnic communities, signed by New Jersey Governor Chris Christie on August 25, 2010, thus set into law.  In 2011, New York Assemblyman Keith L.T. Wright established May 3 as “Bone Marrow & Cord Blood Awareness Day”, for New York State.  The organization’s goal is to get their legislation A06582/S2115 – Jaden’s Law passed in New York State, various other states and federally throughout the United States.

The Need and Availability for Marrow and Cord Blood

The Need for Marrow and Cord Blood Transplantation 

by Maya Bryant

• More than 12,000 patients in the US are in need of marrow or umbilical cord blood transplant due to life threatening diseases such as leukemia and lymphoma each year
• Over 2/3 of patients in need of a transplant do not have a matching donor in their family 

Who’s Donating? 
It is the goal of Preserve Our Legacy, inc. to increase the diversity of the registry so minority groups will have increased chances of receiving the life saving transplant they need. Currently the registry is not diverse enough.

What are the chances of finding a match?

• A patient’s likelihood of finding a match is estimated from 66% to 93% depending on race and ethnicity.  
• Some of the barriers to finding a match and receiving a transplant are lack of access to health care, no or limited insurance coverage, lack of timely referral for transplant, decline in health status, and inability to find a matched donor or cord blood unit.

What are the chances of donating?

• It is nearly impossible to determine an individual’s chance in actually carrying on the act of donating. Someone with a more common tissue type will have a higher chance of donating than someone with a rare tissue type, but someone with a rare tissue type could be the only hope for a patient with the very same tissue type.  
• 1 of 40 potential donors on the Be the Match® registry will be called for additional testing to see if they are the best match for a patient
• 1 in 300 will be selected as the best possible donor
• 1 in 540 members will actually donate bone marrow or peripheral blood stem cells to a patient
• Some may not carry on with the donation because they are not the best match for the patient; they are hindered from donating because of health issues, a change of health plans, or decide not to donate for personal reasons.

SOURCE: National Marrow Donor Program® and Be The Match® Key Messages, Facts & Figures