–National Donor Day Encourages Public to Give Life-Saving Gift by Registering as an Organ Donor–

Pittsburgh, Feb. 12, 2015 – Feb. 14 is National Donor Day, and what better way to share the spirit of the Valentine’s Day than by registering to become an organ, tissue and cornea donor? With someone added to the organ transplant list every 10 minutes, one of the greatest gifts to give this Valentine’s Day is registering to become an organ, tissue and cornea donor.

Just ask Cindy Osborne, a heart recipient from Charleston, WV. Cindy was diagnosed with dilated cardiomyopathy in early 2009 and was added to the transplant waiting list.  She was lucky to receive a new heart only six months later from a 22-year old man from Georgia who was involved in a car accident. He also donated a lung, both kidneys and his pancreas to other grateful recipients.

“The numbers of people in need of organ, tissue and cornea transplants are staggering, especially when compared to the shortage of registered donors,” said Susan Stuart, president and CEO of CORE. “Because of stories like Cindy’s and many others, National Donor Day is a wonderful opportunity to emphasize the love and hope that an individual can provide by becoming a registered organ, tissue and cornea donor.”

Share the love this Valentine’s Day and encourage others to sign up to become a donor by using #GotHeart.  For more stories about those touched by heart donation or transplantation this Valentine’s Day, visit our Facebook page at www.facebook.com/COREDonateLife.

Nationally, more than 123,000 people are awaiting an organ transplant. At least 21 will die each day without receiving one, and someone is added to the organ transplant list every 10 minutes.

To register to become a donor, 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 deliver the gift of hope by coordinating the surgical recovery of organs, tissues and corneas for transplantation.  CORE also facilitates the computerized matching of donated organs, tissues and 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.