About CORE
CORE is a regional not-for-profit agency that is the primary call center and intermediary for the organ recovery and allocation process that serves 156 hospitals and more than six million people in western Pennsylvania, West Virginia and Chemung County in New York. CORE has helped to pioneer organ procurement allocation and recovery for this region since it was founded in 1977 as the Pittsburgh Transplant Foundation.
About Gift Of Life
Since 1974, Gift of Life has served as the link between donors and patients awaiting life-saving transplants in the eastern half of Pennsylvania, southern New Jersey and Delaware. In that tenure, Gift of Life has coordinated more than 26,000 life-saving organ transplants and hundreds of thousand tissue transplants.
Many Thanks! Donate Life Pennsylvania, CORE and Gift of Life would like to thank you for your participation during our recent Torch Run for Life 2008 events across the state of Pennsylvania. The success of these events would not have been possible without your dedication and support of organ and tissue donation. Here are some pictures and a short narrative for each event. For those just tuning in on the Torch Run, Donate Life Pennsylvania, in combination with CORE and Gift of Life Donor Program held a series of events throughout the state to highlight the success of transplantation and to encourage all Pennsylvanians to register as organ and tissue donors via an online website. The torch passed through nine major cities in Pennsylvania, culminating in Pittsburgh in time for the U.S. Transplant Games’ opening ceremonies on Saturday, July 12th. The torch was carried by transplant recipients and donor families from local communities whose lives have been touched by organ and tissue donation. The torch flame symbolizes the life that continues to burn due to the selfless act of kindness by organ and tissue donors each year in the Commonwealth. Local officials and supporters greeted the runners in each city, highlighting the importance of individuals registering as organ and tissue donors. The race is on! On Monday, June 16th, Gift of Life Donor Program and Team Philadelphia kicked off the Torch Run for Life 2008 in Scranton, with our torch runners carrying the flame from the University of Scranton to the County Courthouse. Once the torch arrived, those athletes, along with Scranton Mayor Christopher Doherty and Gift of Life President and CEO Howard M. Nathan, got the rally going, talking about the Games and the importance of being an organ and tissue donor. This was a tremendous kickoff event and set the stage for the next 8 cities!
And on up to Allentown... On Tuesday, June 17th the torch continued up to Allentown for the new Allentown Iron Pigs Game! We had a tremendous turnout at the game - over 8,000 people came out to cheer on the Iron Pigs. Before the game, we had six runners carry the torch around the perimeter of the Iron Pigs field. Thank you Liz Kennedy, Frank Garger, Richard Fallstich, Don Ehnot, Mike Seidick and Ryan Snyder for being our tremendous athletes and carrying the torch. And of course, a special thank you to Dravee Kern for throwing out the first pitch at the game.
Down to Philadelphia... On Monday, June 23rd the torch continued down to Philadelphia for the 3rd city run. Daniel Carrasquillo, Mary Jo Lovely, La Verne Clark and Suzanne Ahmie ran the torch around the perimeter and through the center of City Hall, in downtown Philadelphia. Volunteers lined the run track and cheered on the runners, as they battled the lunch crowds, humidity and rain. Our special thanks to our speakers, Kisha Cannady, Cynthia London and Howard Nathan, for being a part of this important event.
Over to Harrisburg... The journey continued on the steps of the Capital in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania on Wednesday, June 25th. The torch started at the Market Street Bridge and was passed from Dan Snowden to Bobbie Millinak to Denis Neely to Carl Rohr, on to Mo Scavuillo, who carried the torch up the steps of the State Capitol Building. A special thanks to our presentation speakers: Allison Mohn, Janice Kopelman, Kurt Meyers, Howard Nathan and Holly Bulvony, for sharing the powerful message of organ and tissue donation with the audience. At the close of the presentation, Susan Zimmerman and Haley Zimmerman ran the torch out of Harrisburg symbolizing its continuation onto Reading.
Up to Reading... The Reading Phillies baseball team welcomed members and volunteers of Team Philadelphia for the torch run around the stadium on June 26th. Luis Torres, Robin Hivner, Janet Hivner, Jay Schmehl, Carol Schmehl, Jake Hafer were cheered on as they circled the warm-up track on the field. Crowds lined the first base and third base lines and cheered the runners as they carried the burning torch. Jake Hafer, heart recipient, threw out the first pitch at the game. Thanks to everyone who helped pass out materials, spoke with the media and posed for photos.
On to Johnstown... The torch paced on to the Western side of Pennsylvania for the Torch Run for Life 2008 in Johnstown on June 30th. Hosted in Central Park in the heart of town, Rob McGowan ran the torch through the park, symbolizing life continuing on from donation. The Mayor of Johnstown, Thomas Trigona and Liz Kusek share powerful organ and tissue donation messages with the audience, moving more than five people to register as organ donors onsite.
Over to Altoona... Continuing full speed ahead, the torch was carried on to Altoona on July 1st for a special run at the Altoona Curves stadium. Our runners Sharon Johnson, Paul Johnson, Tracy Minnear and Dianne St. Clair carried the burning torch as they ran the perimeter of the baseball field.
And on to Erie... Starting at the Warner Theater on State Street in downtown Erie on July 9th, four runners carried the burning torch from the theater, down the streets of Erie, ending at the Erie Art Museum. Thank you to Dale Arndt, George Shimpeno, Jamie Stroup and Kate Zahorchak for carrying the torch. Presenting speakers included: Paul Jewell, Laura Schaaf, Assistant to the Mayor, Susan Stuart, CEO of CORE and Holly Bulvony, Director of Communications for CORE.
And ending in Pittsburgh... Finishing with a sprint, the Torch Run for Life 2008 concluded its run in Pittsburgh on July 11th, one day prior to the opening ceremonies for the U.S. Transplant Games. Starting at Forbes Avenue and Ross Street, Scotty Johnson, Becky Ridgeway, Frank Holby, Samantha Scholl and Rich Koper passed the torch to each other, through the streets of downtown Pittsburgh, ending at Market Square. Keynote speakers were Don Johnson, Frank Holby, Susan Stewart and Holly Bulvony.
The Flame Burns On... Again, we want to thank each and every person who helped plan, promote, execute, participate, run, cheer and volunteer in this Torch Run. Without the help of each of you, we would not have been able to register more than 50 people as organ and tissue donors. Your enthusiasm and dedication is an inspiration to us all. A special thanks to the National Kidney Foundation and the U.S. Transplant Games for allowing us the opportunity for the Torch Run for Life 2008 to come full circle, by showcasing a final runner and a special video during the opening ceremonies. This special video can be seen by logging on to www.donatelife-pa.org and clicking the Torch Run for Life 2008 button, or by visiting YouTube. We would also like to thank all of our media partners in each city, who were kind enough to bring station vehicles, prizes and music to each Torch Run. We appreciate your continued support towards organ and tissue donation. For more info, please visit www.donatelife-pa.org.
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