MEDIA ADVISORY

CONTACT:	Laura Frnka, APR LifeGift (713) 349-2570 (Office) (713) 409-1480 (Cell) Elvia Valdez LifeGift (713) 349-2572 (Office) (832) 349-215-1897(Cell)
PLANTING THE SEEDS OF HOPE THROUGH ORGAN AND TISSUE DONATION
WHAT:	The Texas Medical Center and the City of Houston will celebrate life through organ and tissue donation. The community officially will be introduced to Donate Life Houston, a local grassroots effort working in conjunction with LifeGift, the local organ and tissue recovery agency, to encourage more Houstonians to register as organ and tissue donors.
WHERE:	John P. McGovern Texas Medical Center Commons, 6550 Bertner Ave., Houston, Texas 77030
WHEN:	Thursday, April 15, 2010 @ 11:30 a.m.
WHO:	The program will feature: Dr. Richard E. Wainerdi, president and CEO of the Texas Medical Center Anne Clutterbuck, Houston's Mayor Pro-Tem Sam Holtzman, president and CEO of LifeGift Official debut of Donate Life Houston Testimonials from transplant recipients, including Senator Mario Gallegos, donor families and those on the waiting list Entertainment by "Orange Is In" and the "Donate Life Houston All Star Band"
WHY	April is National Donate Life Month -- a time to recognize those who gave the ultimate gift -- the gift of life through organ and tissue donation. It also is a time to raise awareness of the critical need for organ and tissue donors. Texas, although one of the most populous states in the country, ranks last in the number of registered organ and tissue donors with only 4 percent of Texans over the age of 18 registered. More than 106,000 men, women and children are waiting for life-saving organ transplants and more than 9,000 of those are Texans. The creation of Donate Life Houston is a unique opportunity for Houston to lead the way for the entire state on this crucial issue.