More than 50 area events planned throughout April to raise awareness

Pittsburgh, March 31, 2017 – More than 118,000 people are waiting for an organ transplant nationally, including more than 3,000 in the Center for Organ Recovery & Education’s (CORE) coverage area.

Throughout April, National Donate Life Month, CORE, and its hospital and community partners will participate in more than 50 events in its service area, which includes the greater Pittsburgh, Erie and Johnstown/Altoona areas. CORE employees and volunteers as well as donor family members and recipients will encourage individuals to register to become an organ, tissue and cornea donor. For every person who donates their organs, tissue and corneas, up to 75 lives can be saved or dramatically improved.

“During National Donate Life Month, we pause to celebrate the lives saved and enhanced through organ, tissue and cornea donation, and to honor those who have given the gift of life as organ, tissue and cornea donors. Because of the selfless choice they made, they are heroes,” said Susan Stuart, president and CEO, CORE. “Registering to be an organ donor is one of the most meaningful ways individuals can become a hero, inspire hope, and change the life of someone waiting for a transplant.” A complete listing of CORE’s National Donate Life Month events is available here.

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 healthcare professionals to coordinate the surgical recovery of organs, tissue 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, New York. For more information, visit core.org or call 1-800-DONORS-7.