TO: STATEWIDE TV OUTLETS For Immediate Release: For More Information Contact: August 1, 2013 Rachel Farrer: 312-814-2599 Alicia McGhee: 312-814-4739 Jesse White and Volunteers Gather to “Wave Away the Waiting” During National Minority Donor Awareness Day Satellite Coordinates: Slug: National Minority Donor Awareness Day Date: 8/1/13 Time: 11:45 AM (CT) – 12 PM (CT) Satellite: AMC 15KU Transponder: 07 Slot: A9 Downlink Frequency: 11826.5 Downlink Polarization: V Bandwidth: 9 MHz Symbol Rate: 3.978729 FEC: 3 / 4 Data Rate: 5.5 For technical assistance please call IOCI Media Services at 217-785-5499. Illinois Secretary of State Jesse White joined with dozens of volunteers representing the approximately 300 people who die each year waiting for a transplant to “Wave Away the Waiting” on the 17th annual National Minority Donor Awareness Day. The event, which was held on the plaza of the James R. Thompson Center, served to encourage organ donation in multicultural communities. “There is a long list of people waiting for transplants within multicultural communities,” said White. “Kidneys are very much in need. Since genetic matches between people belonging to the same ethnic group are most successful, it is imperative that people of similar ethnicities become organ and tissue donors.” According to the United Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS), last year in Illinois: • There were 2,159 African-Americans on the waiting list and only 81 became donors. • There were 858 Hispanics on the waiting list and only 25 became donors. • There were 234 Asian-Americans on the waiting list and only 7 became organ donors. In Illinois, 5.3 million people are registered as organ/tissue donors, yet there are 5,000 people waiting for transplants. National Minority Donor Awareness Day aims to educate people about the need for organ, eye and tissue donation within multicultural communities. Nationally, minorities made up over 56% of the national waiting list for organ transplant, however, accounted for only 34% of actual organ donors. People of color are disproportionately affected by illnesses such as hypertension and diabetes, which can lead to the need for dialysis or a kidney transplant, increasing the number of patients on the national organ transplant waiting list. Booths were available at the event for people to join the Illinois Organ/Tissue Donor Registry, donate blood and receive kidney screenings, among other services. In addition, the Jesse White Tumbling Team performed. The goal is to inspire multicultural communities to become organ and tissue donors. To join the organ and tissue donor registry, visit LifeGoesOn. -#¬-
Posted on: Thu, 01 Aug 2013 16:17:40 +0000