– Award Ceremony to Recognize 32 Hospitals that Increased Donation Awareness –

Pittsburgh, Feb. 29, 2016 – 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 honoring hospitals and health systems throughout Pennsylvania that have gone above and beyond to build a culture of donation within their facilities.

An award ceremony will honor 32 of the region’s hospitals that accepted and met the challenge set forth by CORE, the Hospital and Healthsystem Association of Pennsylvania, the Pennsylvania Department of Health, and the Gift of Life Donor Program to increase organ donation awareness and designations within their hospital and community.

The institutions will be recognized based on three levels of achievement—Platinum, Gold and Silver—at a ceremony hosted by CORE on March 1, when representatives from each organization will accept an award and enjoy a catered lunch.

“Without the commitment and unwavering support of these hospitals, CORE would not be able to achieve its mission, and thousands of people would go without the life-saving and life-enhancing transplants they need,” said Susan Stuart, president and CEO of CORE. “We salute their dedication, and it is our honor to recognize them for their outstanding efforts throughout the past year.”

This year’s honorees include the following organizations:

Platinum

• Allegheny General Hospital, Allegheny Health Network
• Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh of UPMC
• Conemaugh Memorial Medical Center
• Forbes Hospital, Allegheny Health Network
• Jefferson Hospital, Allegheny Health Network
• Meadville Medical Center
• Saint Vincent Hospital, Allegheny Health Network
• UPMC Altoona
• UPMC Hamot
• UPMC Mercy
• UPMC Presbyterian

Gold

• Allegheny Valley Hospital, Allegheny Health Network
• Bradford Regional Medical Center
• Corry Memorial Hospital
• Excela Health System
• Guthrie Robert Packer Hospital
• Penn Highlands Clearfield
• Penn Highlands DuBois
• Penn Highlands Elk
• St. Clair Hospital
• UPMC Bedford
• UPMC Passavant
• Washington Hospital

Silver

• Canonsburg Hospital, Allegheny Health Network
• Conemaugh Meyersdale Medical Center
• Conemaugh Miners Medical Center
• Conemaugh Nason Hospital
• JC Blair Memorial Hospital
• Magee Women’s Hospital of UPMC
• Penn Highlands Brookville
• UPMC St. Margaret
• VA Pittsburgh Healthcare System

Nationally, more than 121,000 people are awaiting an organ transplant. At least 22 people will die each day without receiving one, including two from CORE’s service area. For every person who donates their organs, tissue and corneas, up to 50 lives can be saved or dramatically improved.
For more information about CORE, visit core.org.
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.