For More Information Contact:
Rich Kleban, Director of Communications and Marketing
845-454-1700 x1023
Email: richk@dcrcoc.org
POUGHKEEPSIE... Saturday, December 15, 2012 has been declared Organ Donor Awareness Day in Dutchess County, County Executive Marcus Molinaro announced today at a press conference held at Adams Fairacre Farms in Poughkeepsie.
The Dutchess County Regional Chamber of Commerce presented the event where the announcement was made, with President and CEO Charles S. North presiding.
Dutchess County Executive Marcus J. Molinaro said, “We are pleased to partner with Adams Fairacre Farms and the Dutchess County Regional Chamber of Commerce to get the word out about the importance of becoming an organ donor. Each of us has the ability to offer the gift of life – truly the greatest gift one can ever give. The process is simple and the impact is life-changing.”
This Saturday, Adams Fairacre Farms has invited representatives from the New York Organ Donor Network to be in each of their four stores from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m. There will be a total of 20 representatives conducting educational conversations and enrollment completions for any interested customers.
The Adams stores are located at:
The New York Organ Donor Network is the nonprofit, federally designated organ procurement organization (OPO) for the greater New York Metropolitan area. It works closely with transplant centers and hospitals to coordinate organ, tissue and eye donation for transplant in the New York region; educate the public and health care professionals about donation and transplantation; and promote the importance of signing up on the New York State Donate Life Registry.
The importance of organ, tissue and eye donation came to the forefront of awareness at Adams Fairacre Farms last year, when owner Pat Adams received a heart transplant. One year later, Adams is healthy and active as ever. He and his wife, Barb, as well as many others at Adams, are committed to helping spread the word about the need for donors. More details about Pat's story will be available on the Adams Fairacre Farms blog soon.
Pat Adams feels that December 15 is a perfect date for the annual Organ Donor Awareness Day. "It epitomizes the spirit of giving." And at Adams, honoring the day with informational resources presents another way to give back to the community, which is one of the company's long-standing traditions.
In New York State alone, more than 10,000 residents are waiting for a life-saving organ transplant. There are 115,000 people waiting for a live saving transplant nationally. More statistics:
"Organ donation truly saves lives," said Dutchess County Commissioner of Health Michael C. Caldwell, MD, MPH. "One person who donates organs can save up to eight lives while a tissue donor can improve 50 more lives by restoring eyesight, helping fight infection in burn patients, and preventing the loss of arms or legs. Anyone can become a donor. A person’s medical history or age does not automatically exclude him or her from becoming a donor.”
“Enrolling as an organ donor is simple and easy,” said Dutchess County Clerk Bradford Kendall. “When you are getting your license renewed or applying for a new license at the Dutchess County Department of Motor Vehicles, you can give your consent to be an organ donor and it will be right on the front of your license. Such an easy step can change a life for the better.”
“By enrolling more organ donors, we can save the lives of New Yorkers in need of life saving transplants,” said James Pardes, Vice President of Marketing and Communications for the New York Organ Donor Network. “We thank Dutchess County Executive Marc Molinaro and his Administration for declaring a countywide Organ Donor Awareness Day and for placing the important issue of organ donation and transplantation in the spotlight. We also appreciate the extraordinary work that Adams Fairacre Farms is doing to raise awareness about organ donation.”
“The success of organ transplant is due to continuing progress in the field of cardiovascular disease science and research and through the selfless act of becoming an organ donor. At the holiday season or any time of the year, giving life really is the greatest gift of all,” said Steven Kelley, American Heart Association Chairman and President and CEO of Ellenville Regional Hospital. “Though we can do more than ever to treat severe heart disease, it is vitally important for people to understand that heart disease can be prevented in many cases by a lifestyle that includes a healthy diet enough physical activity, avoidance of tobacco smoke and control of factors such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol, diabetes and overweight.”
“The Chamber is proud to connect the local business community with our public officials and the Organ Donor Network to make this special day happen,” said Charles S. North, President and CEO of the Dutchess County Regional Chamber of Commerce. “We like to say Think Local First, but in this case it’s Give Local First, and what better way to help one another than pledging to be a organ donor.”
Established in 1978, the New York Organ Donor Network is the second largest OPO in the United States, serving a culturally and ethnically diverse population of 13 million people. It works closely with 10 transplant centers, more than 90 hospitals, and various tissue and eye banks. The Donor Network is accredited by the Association of Organ Procurement Organizations (AOPO) and a member of the United Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS), which oversees the organ transplant waiting list in the U.S. For more information on organ donation, or to register to be a donor in New York State, visit www.donatelifeny.org.
Founded in 1907, the Dutchess County Regional Chamber of Commerce is committed to the growth and development of local businesses and the economy. For more information about Chamber happenings, the complete events calendar, or to find out how they might best serve as an advocate for you and your business, please visit dcrcoc.org.
