The University of Toledo Medical Center will commemorate the start of a month-long campaign to raise awareness about the critical need for organ and tissue donors in the northwest Ohio region and around the country with a ceremony on Tuesday, April 1.

Officials from UTMC, the region’s only transplant center, will gather with representatives from Life Connection of Ohio and Community Tissue Services for a ceremonial flag raising of the Donate Life flag at 11:30 a.m. Tuesday, April 1 at the flag pole outside the main entrance to the hospital on Arlington Avenue.

UTMC leaders will be joined by organ recipients and donor families for some brief comments. Following the flag raising, the “Green Chair” will be on display outside the gift shop in the medical center until 2 p.m.

The green chair is a symbol that represents someone who has received a second chance at life because someone else made the decision to be a donor. The chair also will be on display April 5 through April 7 in various UTMC locations. Life Connection of Ohio and Community Tissue Service volunteers will be on hand at each location to answer questions about organ and tissue donation.

UTMC also will hold a Celebration of Life event honoring the memory of those who have generously given the gift of life through organ and tissue donation. The event is scheduled for 2-3:30 p.m. Saturday, April 5 in the Mulford Café in the basement of the Mulford Library Building.

April is Donate Life Month. Life Connection of Ohio, Community Tissue Services, Donate Life Ohio and UTMC are working together to educate patients, visitors, staff and the community about the importance of organ, eye and tissue donation and to encourage more people to make the decision to register as donors.

Register to be an organ, eye and tissue donor today and give hope to those who wait.

To learn more about organ tissue and eye donation, call 800.262.5443 or go to donatelifeohio.org.

Media Coverage
13 ABC (April 3, 2014)

Tags: The University of Toledo Medical Center (UTMC)