Pittsburgh, April 2, 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, is pleased to recognize a local junior girl scout troop that recently completed the filming of an organ donation awareness video. To share the video and encourage individuals to sign up to become a donor, the troop is holding an organ donation awareness event from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. on Saturday, April 6 at Westmoreland Mall (Rt. 30 in Greensburg). At 2:00 p.m., the troop will act out their video in the “Center Stage” area of the mall, downstairs near Kay Jewelers and Hollister. During the event, the troop will have a table in Center Court (lower level) with more information about organ, tissue and cornea donation and the importance of signing up to become a donor.

The troop (#21955) consists of girls in grades four and five who attend Level Green Elementary School in the Penn Trafford School District in Westmoreland County. Production of the video has enabled the girls to earn their bronze award. The troop will use the video to educate other troops and to increase awareness of the importance of organ donation in the community.

“On behalf of CORE, I’d like to congratulate this troop on the creation of their video, and for choosing the important cause of organ, tissue and cornea donation awareness,” said Susan Stuart, president and CEO of CORE. “We are sure that the video will spur conversations about organ donation among Girl Scouts across the region, their leaders, their families and the community at large. Hopefully that dialogue will encourage more people to make the ‘Pledge for Life’ and sign up to become a donor.”

Nationally, more than 117,000 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.