Pittsburgh, January 30, 2014 – 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 partner with Donate Life West Virginia to promote organ donation awareness in conjunction with West Virginia Hospital Day on February 6, 2014 at the Capitol Rotunda in Charleston, W.Va.

• On February 5, a resolution will be presented to both the House of Delegates and Senate recognizing the efforts of West Virginia OPOs and encouraging individuals to make a Pledge for Life by registering to become a donor. The resolutions also discuss the impact that organ donation has had on West Virginia citizens including recipient Jay Wessels and the family of donor Shane Jividen.
• On February 6, Donate Life West Virginia will have an information table at the Capitol Rotunda. Staff and volunteers will also deliver informational packets to legislators highlighting the importance of donation.

“Donate Life West Virginia’s mission is to enhance donation awareness, increase donor designation and end the waiting time for recipients in need of the lifesaving gift of transplantation across the Mountain State,” said Susan Stuart, president and CEO of CORE. “On behalf of Donate Life West Virginia, we look forward to engaging our West Virginia legislators in furthering the cause of organ, tissue and cornea donation. We urge them to learn more about donation and join us in becoming a champion for this important cause.”

To increase organ, tissue and cornea donation awareness across the state, Donate Life West Virginia:

• Works with West Virginia hospitals to ensure that personnel are properly trained in the donation process so that every potential organ donor has a chance to donate.
• Partners with the state department of motor vehicles to provide information and assistance in asking every eligible resident to register as an organ, tissue and cornea donor.
• Provides education within corporations, schools, organizations and other outlets to bring awareness to the importance of organ, tissue and cornea donation.
• Implements a statewide hospital challenge to encourage hospitals to actively engage in registering organ donor designations.

Donate Life West Virginia is comprised of four federally-designated organ procurement organizations (OPOs) that are dedicated to promoting and coordinating the donation of organs and tissue for transplantation – CORE, Lifeline of Ohio, Kentucky Organ Donor Affiliates and LifeNet Health. For more information about Donate Life West Virginia, visit www.donatelifewv.org.

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.