– Event Encourages Individuals to Register to Become an Organ, Tissue and Cornea Donor –

Pittsburgh, April 2, 2014 – More than 120,000 people across the country are awaiting an organ transplant, and at least eighteen will die without receiving one. The Center for Organ Recovery & Education (CORE) is joining the organ donation community once again this April by celebrating National Donate Life Month. Throughout the month, CORE is encouraging people to register to become organ, tissue and cornea donors.

As part of this month-long observance, Friday, April 11 is National Blue and Green Day, a national initiative to get people talking about organ donation, why it is important, and how easy it is to sign up and become a donor. From 6 p.m. to 12 a.m., CORE’s Altoona Area Task Force will have an organ donation awareness information table at Family Pizza (200 E. Pleasant Valley Blvd) in Altoona to encourage donor sign ups. CORE encourages individuals to wear blue and green to show their support.

“In conjunction with OPOs across the nation, we are pleased to celebrate National Donate Life Month with a community event such as this one,” said Susan Stuart, president and CEO of CORE. “The number of people in need of transplants far exceeds the number of organs, tissues and corneas that are donated, and at CORE, one of our primary goals is to educate people on the need to make a pledge for life and become an organ, tissue and cornea donor. Registering to become a donor only takes about 30 seconds, but it can make the difference of a lifetime.”

Individuals are encouraged to talk with family members and friends about making the pledge to become an organ, tissue and cornea donor. Each person that signs up to become a donor can help up to 50 people.

For more information about organ, tissue and cornea donation, visit CORE’s website at www.core.org. It only takes 30 seconds to become a registered donor – visit www.donatelifepa.org.

Show your support and share your photos on social media this month using the hashtag #BlueAndGreen2014.

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.