WHEELING - In an effort to celebrate the gift of life and spread awareness regarding the critical need for organ and tissue donation in the Ohio Valley, representatives with the Center for Organ Recovery & Education and Ohio Valley Medical Center joined together Monday to raise the "Donate Life" flag outside OVMC in Wheeling.
This year, Donate Life America has launched a new initiative, "20 Million in 2012," to radically increase the number of people listed on state donor registries.
Sponsored by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Health Resources and Services Administration, the Workplace Partnership for Life campaign brings together national partners including the American Hospital Association, local and regional organ, eye and tissue donation organizations, and hospitals throughout the nation to educate employees and hospital communities on the importance of organ, eye and tissue donation.
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Representatives with the Center for Organ Recovery & Education and Ohio Valley Medical Center joined together Monday to raise the 'Donate Life' flag outside OVMC in Wheeling.
Photo by Scott McCloskey
April is national Donate Life Month.
"We work hand-in-hand with CORE providing education programs for our community to provide awareness of the demand for organ donation, not only in the Ohio Valley, but across the country," said Stacie Trudo, chief quality officer and hospital CORE liaison, who spoke briefly to a small crowd gathered near the hospital's flag pole area.
"There are many people across our community who have been touched by organ and tissue donation, and we hope these efforts will continue to provide hope for those who need it," she added.
Michael Caruso, president and chief executive officer for Ohio Valley Health Services & Education Corp., parent company of OVMC and East Ohio Regional Hospital in Martins Ferry, said, "Ohio Valley Medical Center is delighted to be working with the CORE program. ... It's been a very successful program that we've been able to work with families and members to donate back to help people in life."
Kelly Bettem, OVMC chief administrative officer, said, "Organ and tissue donation makes a difference in the lives of people across the United States, and the need for donors is real. Donors and their families truly are the unsung heroes. During a time of great loss, they reach out and give the gift of life to someone they've never met."
