The chances of finding a match have improved in the past few years but still there are several minority patients who need a match.
Large number of donors from the same race increase the chance of a patient finding a match for a life-saving marrow transplant.

Together, we can HELP BRING A SMILE BACK TO LIFE.

NetIP 2007

SAMAR attended the 16th Annual NetIP Conference in Miami during the Labor Day weekend.  With over a thousand professionals in attendance, SAMAR reached out to educate and register in large numbers.  Mr. Khan made opening remarks at the conference and encouraged all to register if they have not and to contemplate future drives at their affiliated institutions. 

AAPI MS/R Meeting at Ada Restaurant in NYC

SAMAR attended a kickoff AAPI MS/R networking party thrown by AAPI MS/R President Dr. Snehal Desai.  The event took place on Saturday August 18, 2007at Ada Restaurant in NYC.  140 AAPI MS/R members from throughout the nation were present for this extravagant event.  Dr. Desai has been instrumental in strengthening the MS/R group in many states.  Mr. and Mrs. Khan spoke directly with many of the representatives about potential projects to educate and create awareness and formally announced the two scholarships for medical students that SAMAR and the NMDP are offering.  The information will soon be posted.  A recruitment drive was done and the night was declared a success.

From Left: Moazzam Khan, Rafiya Khan, Ruby Thomas, Dr. Snehal Desai, Chaitanya Challa and Shashi Kapadia

Dr. Sunit Jariwala, SAMAR's long time volunteer, with another volunteer.  Dr. Jariwala helped SAMAR start our first drives at Rutgers University.

STECI Volleyball Tournament 2007

On Saturday August 11, SAMAR held a recruitment drive at the STECI Volleyball Tournament 2007.  The tournament was a great success as teams from the tri-state area were present.  In-between games, the MC made announcements for all in attendance to sign up for the NMDP registry at the SAMAR table.  And, with the aid of some volunteers we had a very successful drive.

Our Youngest Volunteers at Bethpage: (from left) Navya Keerikatte, Tina Joji, Jisa Sunny

PIANOS 2007

SAMAR, aided by the many wonderful volunteers of Team Vinay and Team Sameer, held a recruitment drive at Pianos.  Musicians and DJs kept the crowd going while SAMAR registered over a hundred donors.  Please check out the slideshow at:

SAMAR @ Pianos

AAPI 2007

SAMAR was honored to be part of AAPI's Silver Jubilee Convention.  As usual, the convention provided SAMAR with an ideal platform to reach out to South Asian medical professionals.  At the convention, SAMAR networked with doctors and many medical student representatives and created new connections in the ongoing effort to aid patients.  SAMAR renewed its "Spring into Action Initiative" with AAPI MS/R and the NMDP and we look forward to a year of continued efforts for recruitment.

Rutgers 2007

SAMAR once again conducted a donor recruitment drive at Rutgers University.  Every year, SAMAR and Rutgers students collaborate on a campus wide drive and are able to recruit and educate students.  This year, the brothers of Delta Sigma Iota lent a hand.  They worked as SAMAR's street team in motivating other students to join.

The brothers of Delta Sigma Iota and Allison, who set up the drive.

Rafiya Khan Honored With "Dream of Equality" Award

Rafiya Peerbhoy Khan became the first Indian to receive the “Dream of Equality” award from Asian Americans for Equality (AAFE) for her years of dedicated service to the minority community.  She was honored at AAFE’s 33^rd Lunar New Year Celebration which recently took place at the prestigious Gotham Hall in Manhattan.  Congressman Anthony Weiner, Council Member John Liu and other prominent city and state officials joined keynote speaker Andrew M. Cuomo, the Attorney General of New York State.  In her address to the over 800 in audience, Mrs. Khan stressed the importance of registering to be marrow/blood cell donors and asked everyone to "join in the effort to help bring smiles back to life."

L to R Rafiya Peerbhoy Khan, Pres SAMAR receiving the Dream of Equality Award from Ms Suki Ports (Board Member AAFE).  Also in the picture are Ms Vanitha Venugopal, Board member, and Ezer Kang, V.P. of AAFE.

Council Member John Liu with Rafiya Peerbhoy Khan.

CBS Anchor Cindy Hsu, the Banquet's master of ceremonies, and Rafiya Peerbhoy Khan.

Up and Close with Media - CBS Anchor Cindy Hsu and Moazzam Khan, SAMAR's Director of Community Outreach.

2007 SASA Conference

From January 4th-8th of 2007, the South Asian Students Alliance annual convention took place in Miami, FL. Hundreds of South Asian Students from all across the United States attended to take part in seminars, watch performances, and just have a good time. Of course, SAMAR was there, reaching out to South Asian students and student organizations to help recruit and educate young South Asians nationwide.

In addition, some notable South Asian personalities came to register as volunteer donors, as well as show their support for our cause.

Bikram Singh, well known Bhangra singer/composer registered as a marrow donor. He even brought a friend.

Jay Sean, hip-hop star extraordinaire was glad to lend his cheek cells as well as his support, saying that the South Asian community needed to unite and "get clued in" about the importance of bone marrow transplant and the need for a diverse registry.

South Asian artists Thara (Jay Z's "Excuse me Miss", and many more) and Tina Sugandh (Hollywood Records) also stopped by to swab themselves and register.

Finally, SASA keynote speaker Kal Penn (Harold and Kumar, The Namesake) lent his strong support for our cause. Kal registered as a donor back in 1998, and requested that everyone, regardless of ethnicity, register to help save lives.