Facetime: Striking a Match

Sara Glassman, Star Tribune

Ed Snyder, M.D., chair of NMDP and Jocelyn and Michael Jones, chief information officer of NMDP.

By Sara Glassman, Star Tribune

Last update: October 19, 2009 - 8:52 AM

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It sounds like a set-up for late-night talk show host: The postmaster general and a former baseball star walk into a party. ...

However, in the case of Be the Match Foundation's annual gala, there was no punch line -- Postmaster General Jack Potter and Rod Carew were on hand to raise money and generate awareness toward people with blood diseases.

The organization supports the National Marrow Donor Program (NMDP), which recruits donors for the marrow registry (testing involves a cheek swab), awards patient-assistance grants and supports transplant research.

"Next year, the goal is to match 5,000 people from the organization's database of 7 million people and a worldwide database of 13 million," said Dr. Jeffrey Chell, NMDP's chief executive officer.

Only 25 percent of people can find a match within their families. Carew became involved when in the 1990s his daughter Michelle needed a donor. (She died in 1996.) His quest led to a major collaborative effort with the U.S. Postal Service that continues today.

"We're in a unique position to ask folks to join, based on the needs of the organization," said Potter, who was honored at the event.

"It's tremendous what has happened," said Carew of the progress made since his involvement began.

Indeed, a lot of good can happen from unlikely partnerships.

Sara Glassman • 612-673-7177

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