Senator Kemp Hannon joins Long Island TRIO to promote organ donation this Valentine's Day.
February 14, 2010....

Senator Kemp Hannon joined with Long Island TRIO (Long Island Chapter, Transplant Recipients International Organization) to promote organ donation this Valentine's Day.
As the ranking member of the Senate Health Committee, Senator Hannon has been responsible for numerous laws which promote organ donation and make it easier to become a donor. He sponsored legislation providing for an opportunity to make a voluntary contribution to the "Life: Pass It On" Trust Fund to support organ and tissue donation education and awareness.

"Long Island TRIO is committed to improving the quality of lives touched by the miracle of transplantation through support, advocacy, education and organ donation awareness," said Mike Sosna, president of Long Island TRIO noting that the group consists of transplant recipients, living donors, donor families, candidates, professionals and caregivers. "I am honored to be among Long Island TRIO volunteers who are continuing and expanding the tradition, goals and the mission of our organization. This mission includes promoting the importance of and need for organ donation. With more than 9,000 New Yorkers and 105,710 Americans on the waiting list to receive a lifesaving organ transplant, we trust that our volunteer efforts together with the implementation of recently signed laws in New York State will increase activity and registrations with respect to New York State's “Donate Life Registry”.

“This Valentine's Day, we must remember that one of the greatest actions of loveis giving the gift of life to another,” said Senator Kemp Hannon. “This past year, I had the distinct honor of presenting Levittown teacher, Jennifer Mazzotta-Perretti, with one of New York's highest honors, the New York State Senate Liberty Award, for selflessly donating one of her kidneys to one of her students,” continued Hannon. The award was presented at Long Island TRIO's Re- dedication of The Organ Donor Rose Garden in Eisenhower Park. Every year, more than 1,500 people receive kidneys, livers and hearts that have been donated for transplantation. However, with thousands of New Yorkers still on waiting lists, the need for organ donations far exceeds the supply.

"It was the right decision and now we are friends for life," said Mazzotta-Perretti about her student, Kevin O'Brien, 19, who Mazzotta-Perretti donated her kidney to. "I pray and hope he'll go on and realize his dreams."

Those wishing to become a donor can visit www.litrio.org (http://www.litrio.org), www.donatelifenys.net (http://www.donatelifenys.net), www.health.state.ny.us/donor (http://www.health.state.ny.us/donor) or www.organdonor.gov (http://www.organdonor.gov). The New York State Organ and Tissue Donor Registry can be reached at 1-866-NYDONOR.

For an informational brochure on becoming a donor, call Senator Hannon's Community Office at 516- 739-1700.

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Action challenge: What are you and your chapter doing to promote organ donation in your state/community when these natural opportunites come around (i.e., like Valentine's Day, or April: Donate Life month, etc.)?

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