Pittsburgh, December 5, 2013 – The Center for Organ Recovery & Education (CORE), a federally designated not-for-profit organ procurement organization (OPO) serving Pennsylvania, West Virginia, and parts of New York, is pleased to announce its participation in the nationally televised 125th Rose Parade (January 1, 2014 beginning at 11 a.m. ET in Pasadena, CA). For the fourth year in a row, CORE is sponsoring a memorial floragraph portrait that will appear on Donate Life’s float during the parade. This year, the family of Kevin Ellis Boyles, a 22-year-old tissue and cornea donor from Point Pleasant, WV will create a likeness of him out of flowers. The resulting floragraph will adorn the float to commemorate Boyles’ life-saving gift.

To honor Kevin’s legacy, CORE and Pleasant Valley Hospital are holding a floragraph decorating event on Thursday, December 5, 2013 at 10:00 a.m. ET at Pleasant Valley Hospital (2520 Valley Drive, Point Pleasant, WV 25550). At the event, CORE will introduce the family of Kevin Boyles and watch them complete his floragraph that will be a part of Donate Life’s float at the Rose Parade.

“When an individual makes the pledge to become an organ, tissue and cornea donor, they make a Pledge for Life. At CORE, our work is inspired by individuals like Kevin who said ‘yes’ to donation. This selfless act has enabled his legacy to live on and for others to have a second chance at life,” said Susan Stuart, president and CEO of CORE. “We are proud to honor Kevin and recognize his family for their son’s life-saving gifts, and are pleased that West Virginia will be represented in this year’s Rose Parade.”

“This is an extraordinary opportunity for Pleasant Valley Hospital to be a meaningful part of one of the world’s greatest traditions: the Rose Parade. We are deeply grateful to donors and their families for their generous decision to help others in need,” said Larry Unroe, chief executive officer of Pleasant Valley Hospital. “It is our privilege to present our rose and also participate in the upcoming floragraph ceremony on December 5th here at Pleasant Valley Hospital.”

Point Pleasant, WV native Kevin Ellis Boyles died suddenly in April of 1997 after an undetected heart condition. At the time of his death, he was a senior at West Virginia University pursuing a degree in forestry. Kevin excelled in sports, loved the outdoors and cherished time with family and friends. Kevin was a donor at the time of his death, having just renewed his driver’s license six weeks prior to his death. Through Kevin’s gifts as a tissue and cornea donor, two people who were once blind can now see the world through Kevin’s eyes. Additionally, many others received life-saving or life-enhancing tissue transplants because of Kevin.

Kevin’s floragraph will be one of 81 memorial floragraphs that will adorn the Donate Life float in the Rose Parade. Each one commemorates an organ, tissue or cornea donor from across the country.

Donate Life America chose the theme of “Light Up the World” for this year’s Rose Parade float. Individuals and families touched by donation and transplantation radiate with gratitude and renewed life thanks to the gifts of the donors. Illuminated lanterns on the Donate Life float will be adorned with the memorial floragraph portraits, whose gifts of life shine a light on us all.

Nationally, more than 120,000 people are awaiting an organ transplant. At least 18 will die each day without receiving one, including two from CORE’s service area. For every person who donates their organs, tissues and corneas, up to 50 lives can be saved or dramatically improved.

For more information about CORE, visit www.core.org or call 1-800-DONORS-7.

About CORE
The Center for Organ Recovery & Education (CORE) is one of 58 federally designated not-for-profit organ procurement organizations (OPOs) in the United States. CORE works closely with donor families and designated health care professionals to coordinate the surgical recovery of organs, tissues and corneas for transplantation. CORE also facilitates the computerized matching of donated organs and placement of corneas. With headquarters in Pittsburgh and an office in Charleston, West Virginia, CORE oversees a region that encompasses 155 hospitals and almost six million people throughout western Pennsylvania, West Virginia and Chemung County, NY. For more information, visit www.core.org or call 1-800-DONORS-7.

About Pleasant Valley Hospital
Recently recognized by The Joint Commission as the Top Performing Hospital for the community they serve, Pleasant Valley Hospital provides care for those living in Mason and Jackson Counties in West Virginia and Gallia and Meigs Counties in Ohio. Established in 1959, Pleasant Valley Hospital is a not-for-profit healthcare system that provides community-oriented healthcare. This 201-bed facility offers a full spectrum of and includes a 101-bed acute care facility, a 100-bed nursing & rehabilitation center, three medical equipment sites and a (open to the public). Pleasant Valley Hospital has over 40 practicing physicians and provides general services to the community including OB-GYN, radiology, emergency medicine, inpatient and outpatient surgery, neurology, sleep studies, urology, gastroenterology, ophthalmology, orthopedics, oncology/hematology, otolaryngology, home health, hospice, and a full-range of rehabilitation services. Radiology services include CT with virtual colonoscopy and 64-Slice CT cardiac, MRI, ultrasound, nuclear medicine and mammography. PVH also operates fifteen medical clinics.