– Sciullo’s Floragraph Portrait to Adorn the Donate Life Float in Pasadena –

Pittsburgh, Dec. 9, 2014 – For the fifth year in a row, The Center for Organ Recovery & Education (CORE), is pleased to announce its participation in the 126th Rose Parade on Jan. 1, 2015 in Pasadena. CORE is sponsoring a memorial floragraph portrait that will appear on Donate Life’s float during the parade, which begins at 11 a.m. ET. This year, the family of Paul J. Sciullo II, a 36-year-old tissue donor will create a likeness of him out of flowers. His resulting floragraph will adorn the float to commemorate the fallen Pittsburgh Police Officer’s life-enhancing gift as a tissue donor.

To honor Paul’s legacy, CORE is holding a floragraph decorating and dedication event on Dec. 9, 2014 at its headquarters in RIDC Park. At the event, CORE will introduce the family of Paul Sciullo and watch them complete his floragraph that will be a part of Donate Life’s float at the Rose Parade.

The program will also include remarks from Sgt. Chuck Henderson of the Pittsburgh Bureau of Police, Kevin Acklin, chief of staff, Office of Mayor William Peduto and friend of Paul; and the Sciullo family of Bloomfield. JoAnne Burka, living kidney donor of Charleston, WV, will also be in attendance. She is serving as a Donate Life float walker during the Rose Parade alongside 12 other living donors. Additionally, Allegheny Health Network hospital leaders will sign dedication messages for rose vials that will be placed in the Dedication Garden on the Donate Life float in the parade.

“We are proud to recognize Paul as our floragraph honoree for not only his service to the City of Pittsburgh, but for the gift he gave as a tissue donor following his tragic death while in the line of duty,” said Susan Stuart, president and CEO of CORE. “At CORE, our work is inspired by individuals like Paul who said ‘yes’ to donation and understand the impact of making A Pledge for Life. We are pleased to honor Paul’s legacy, recognize his family, and give this fallen hero a place in the 2015 Rose Parade.”

Paul, a native of Pittsburgh’s Bloomfield neighborhood, was a graduate of Duquesne University. He tried different professions, but always knew that he wanted to make a difference in the work that he was doing, which led him to becoming a Pittsburgh Police officer. He was also a registered organ donor. On April 4, 2009, Paul was killed in the line of duty. He received the highest honor presented by the Pittsburgh Bureau of Police, the Medal of Valor and the Purple Heart for his service and sacrifice. Since his death, numerous scholarships, awards and philanthropic fundraisers have been established in his name. Through his gift as a tissue donor, many people received life-enhancing tissue transplants.

Paul’s floragraph will be one of 72 memorial floragraphs that will adorn the Donate Life float in the Rose Parade. Each one commemorates an organ, tissue or cornea donor from across the country.

Donate Life America chose the theme of “The Never-Ending Story” for its 2015 Rose Parade float, explaining that the donation of organs, tissue and corneas begins an inspiring story that lives on forever. In their passing, deceased donors open up a world of health, sight and mobility to people in need, while the gifts from living donors release family members, friends and even strangers to live more fully. Through its endless power to save, heal and transform lives, organ, tissue and cornea donation is truly The Never-Ending Story.

Nationally, more than 123,000 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.