Butler Health System Celebrates National Donate Life Month

Members of the hospital unit management team and a representative from CORE pose for a photo prior to hanging a flag in the ICU unit at Butler Memorial Hospital to help spread awareness about organ donation.

Nationally, more than 100,000 people are waiting for an organ transplant, including 2,500 people in western Pennsylvania and West Virginia. At least 20 will die each day without receiving the transplant they so desperately need. Someone is added to the transplant waiting list every 10 minutes.

“Butler Health System is pleased to join the Center for Organ Recovery & Education (CORE) to raise awareness about organ, tissue, and cornea donation,” said Ryan Kirkwood, Director of ICU, Butler Memorial Hospital. “Organ donation saves lives and is vital for thousands of individuals battling various medical conditions requiring a transplant to survive. Please talk to your family and friends about the importance of becoming an organ donor, it is a true gift of life for those in need.”

“National Donate Life Month is a time when we recognize the power of organ, tissue and cornea donation to save and heal lives; affirm the partnerships between CORE and the hospitals we serve throughout western Pennsylvania and West Virginia that made possible nearly 900 life-saving organ transplants in 2022; and mobilize and inspire our local communities to register as donors.,” said Susan Stuart, President & CEO of CORE. “Most importantly though, National Donate Life Month is a time when we honor the generous donors and donor families whose decision to give the gift of life has provided hope and healing to so many in our community.”

Anyone can be a potential donor regardless of age, race or medical history. Individuals are encouraged to talk with family members and friends about registering as a donor. One organ donor can save up to eight lives and a tissue donor can improve the lives of more than 100 others. To sign up, visit core.org/register.

About CORE

The Center for Organ Recovery & Education (CORE) is one of 57 federally designated not-for-profit organ procurement organizations (OPOs) in the United States, serving more than five million people in western Pennsylvania, West Virginia and Chemung County, New York. CORE coordinates the recovery and matching of organs, tissues and corneas for transplant within our service region, and works tirelessly to create a culture of donation within the hospitals and communities we serve. CORE’s mission is to Save and Heal lives through donation, ultimately ending the deaths of those on the transplant waiting list, while maintaining integrity for the donation process, dignity for the donors, and compassion for their families. CORE is a winner of the 2019 Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award, a presidential award that recognizes nonprofits for their innovation and excellence. For more information, visit www.core.org or call 1-800-DONORS-7.