Pittsburgh, October 31, 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, is asking Pennsylvania and West Virginia residents within CORE’s service area to show their support of Team Pittsburgh in the Transplant Games of America next summer. Through June 2014, CORE will match the purchase of a Donate Life license plate with all proceeds going to Team Pittsburgh. CORE will also match the cost of those who already have a Donate Life license plate.

“As a gold sponsor of next summer’s Transplant Games of America, CORE is pleased to continue to support Team Pittsburgh’s participation in the games through the matching of each purchase of Donate Life license plates,” said Susan Stuart, president and CEO of CORE. “Each of the transplant recipients competing has their donor to thank for their lifesaving gift, and we are also pleased to honor their memory. We encourage individuals to learn more about organ, tissue and cornea donation and make the Pledge for Life and sign up to become a donor.”

Donate Life license plates are available for purchase by clicking here: PA Residents ($22.50), WV Residents ($45.00).

For CORE to complete the donation, please email your license plate number or a photo of your license plate to Michelle Christenson of CORE at mchristenson@core.org. If you already have a Donate Life license plate, please email Michelle Christenson with your license plate number or a photo of your license plate.

Taking place July 11-15, 2014 in Houston, Texas, the Transplant Games of America is a multi-sport festival event for individuals who have undergone life-saving transplant surgeries. Competition events are open to living donors, organ transplant recipients, bone marrow recipients, and a limited number of corneal and tissue transplant recipients. The Transplant Games of America also highlight the critical importance of organ, tissue and cornea donation, while celebrating the lives of donors and recipients.

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 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.