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Syracuse hospitals join in celebration of Donate Life Month April 25

SYRACUSE, N.Y.-- Syracuse hospitals and local organ, tissue and eye donation organizations will join together April 25 to celebrate Donate Life Month, honoring and celebrating donors and recipients whose lives have been touched by organ and tissue donation. The gathering will also call attention to the need for more individuals to sign up as organ, eye and tissue donors, especially as national transplant waiting lists continue to grow.

Top officials from Upstate University Hospital, Crouse Hospital, St. Joseph’s Hospital Health Center, the Syracuse VA Medical Center and Upstate University Hospital at Community General will gather at noon Wednesday, April 25 in front of Upstate Golisano Children’s Hospital and pledge their commitment to helping educate the community on joining the New York State Donate Life Registry.

A silent auction and a dessert-tasting event to benefit the Donate Life Fund at Upstate will begin immediately following the presentation in the Kinney Performance Center located on the 11th floor of Upstate Golisano Children’s Hospital.

The hospitals also are involved in a challenge during the month of April to promote the New York State Donate Life Registry among employees at all five facilities. A large sign keeping track of the progress is being displayed on the Crouse Hospital parking garage.

“During this special emphasis on organ donation, we want to be sure that the public has all the information necessary to come to a decision with their families on whether to become an organ donor,” said Katherine Mitchell, a clinical educator at Upstate University Hospital.

Upstate is the only hospital in Syracuse that offers transplant procedures. Upstate performed 37 kidney transplants last year, seven of which were from living donors.

At the noon ceremony, hospital executives will sign a pledge to make a commitment to enhance awareness of organ donation issues that in turn will hope to increase the number of individuals signing New York’s donate life registry. Donors, donor families and transplant recipients will also speak.

For more information on becoming a donor visit Donor Recovery.

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