Pittsburgh, August 28, 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, will turn a night at the ballgame into an important educational effort this summer to raise awareness of the need for organ, tissue and cornea donation. This Friday, August 30, CORE will sponsor “Organ Donation Awareness Night” at the Washington Wild Things vs. Florence Freedom baseball game at 7:05 p.m. (Consol Energy Park, One Washington Federal Way, Washington). During the game, CORE will have a table to share information with attendees about donation and encourage people to make A Pledge for Life and sign up to become a donor.

“Large events such as this enable us to educate more people about the importance of making the Pledge for Life by becoming an organ, tissue and cornea donor,” said Susan Stuart, president and CEO of CORE. “We are pleased to host this special awareness event, and hope that Washington Wild Things fans who are not already donors will make that choice on August 30.”

Additionally, two-year-old Jameson McKain of Cecil, who received a heart transplant in 2011 after being born with a congenital heart defect, will throw out the first pitch. His mother, Danielle, will speak during the game to share her son’s story and how organ donation has touched their lives.

Nationally, more than 119,000 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.