Local Houses of Worship Unite in Support of Organ and Tissue Donation

National Donor Sabbath Weekend Nov. 13-15, 2009

HARRISBURG, Pa., Oct. 30, 2009 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Members of faith-based communities across the state will recognize the most precious gift of life-saving efforts -- through organ and tissue donations during National Donor Sabbath weekend. This three-day inclusive observance, which occurs annually during the second weekend of November, is a special time for religious leaders to educate their congregations about the importance of organ and tissue donation and the critical need for more donors.

"National Donor Sabbath presents an ideal opportunity for individuals to learn how their religion supports organ donation and to make the spiritual decision to help save lives," said Center for Organ Recovery and Education (CORE) president and CEO Susan A. Stuart. "We urge residents to talk to their respective religious leaders and consider making the decision to become an organ and tissue donor."

Donate Life Pennsylvania brings together religious and transplant communities during this weekend to dispel fears about the perception of the incompatibility of religious beliefs and organ donation. According to the United Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS) and National Donate Life America, every organized religion views organ and tissue donation as a positive expression of faith.

Nationally, more than 28,000 people received an organ transplant in 2008, thanks to the gifts of over 14,200 donors. However, nearly 104,000 citizens across the country still wait for a transplant. In October 2007, 97,678 individuals designated themselves as organ and tissue donors in Pennsylvania. Within a year, that number increased to 104,980 registered donors.

"Each day 18 people die because of the shortage of available organs for transplant," said Howard M. Nathan, Gift of Life's (GOL) president and CEO. "Every 11 minutes, a new name is added to the national organ waiting list. Yet less than 50 percent of eligible Pennsylvanians are designated organ and tissue donors. With faith-based organizations across the state joining together, we believe we can help people understand the importance of donation and that their religion does support such a decision."

National Donor Sabbath, which is endorsed by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, is now in its 14th year of promoting the interfaith celebration of life and the importance of organ and tissue donation. To sign up to be an organ and tissue donor or to receive more information about religious perspectives on donation, visit www.donatelife-pa.org.

About CORE

CORE is a regional not-for-profit agency that is the primary call center and intermediary for the organ recovery and allocation process that serves 155 hospitals and more than six million people in western Pennsylvania, West Virginia and Chemung County in New York. CORE has helped to pioneer organ procurement allocation and recovery for this region since it was founded in 1977 as the Pittsburgh Transplant Foundation. For more information visit www.core.org

About Gift of Life Donor Program

Since 1974, Gift of Life Donor Program has served as the link between donors and patients awaiting life-saving transplants in the eastern half of Pennsylvania, southern New Jersey and Delaware. In that tenure, Gift of Life has coordinated more than 28,000 life-saving organ transplants and hundreds of thousand tissue transplants. For more information, visit www.donors1.org

Life Begins with You Campaign

The Life Begins with You campaign is a collaborative initiative between Gift of Life Donor Program (GOL), the Center for Organ & Recovery Education (CORE) -- the two organ procurement organizations serving Pennsylvania -- and the Pennsylvania Departments of Health and Transportation. It is funded by state residents through voluntary contributions included with driver's license renewals, vehicle registrations and state income tax filings. All contributions are used by the Governor Robert P. Casey Memorial Organ and Tissue Donation Awareness Trust Fund to educate residents, build awareness about the importance of organ and tissue donation, and increase the number of people who sign up to become donors on their driver's license, learner's permit or state identification card.

One Extraordinary Way to Say Love Life.

When you choose to become an organ and tissue donor, you have the power to give the most precious gift -- life. Join the nearly four million Pennsylvanians who have said "yes" to organ and tissue donation by adding the donor designation to your driver's license, learner's permit or state identification card. Sign up to be an organ and tissue donor today by visiting www.donatelife-pa.org because Life Begins with You.

CONTACT:  PRworks, Inc.
          Deborah Saline
          717.580.8160
          dsaline@prworksinc.com