Pittsburgh, February 13, 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, joins the nation in celebrating National Donor Day this Valentine’s Day by encouraging individuals to share their love by sharing the gift of life.

“With more than 117,000 people across the country awaiting an organ transplant, the need is great. Unfortunately, at least 18 people will die each day without receiving a transplant, which includes two from CORE’s service area,” said Susan Stuart, president and CEO of CORE. “We encourage individuals to make the pledge for life by registering to become an organ, tissue and cornea donor, which is also a wonderful way to show your love for others this Valentine’s Day.”

National Donor Day was implemented in 1998 by the Saturn Corporation and its United Auto Workers partners with the support of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and many nonprofit health organizations. It focuses on the five points of life: organs, tissues, marrow, platelets and blood.

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