New York Organ Donor Network Celebrates Its 25th
Anniversary - November 13, 2003
Author Anna Quindlen Calls for an Annual “Open Your Heart Day” to Increase Organ Donation
New York – The New York Organ Donor Network, the organ procurement organization serving 13 million people in the Greater New York metropolitan area, celebrated its 25th anniversary at its Donate Life dinner at the Waldorf Astoria tonight. The event celebrated 25 years of saving lives through organ and tissue donation by honoring the Donor Network’s founders, deceased donors and their families, living donors, and recipients.
The event focused on the critical need to increase public awareness about organ and tissue donation as well as the stories of those who have benefited from the miracle of organ donation. Approximately 7,000 of all Americans awaiting an organ transplant live in the New York metro area.
Five attendees of the event were spotlighted -- more than 20 years ago, they underwent organ transplants and were in attendance to celebrate. They served as a powerful testament to the often long-term success of donation and transplantation.
The guest of honor and keynote speaker was Anna Quindlen, author and writer of Newsweek’s “Last Word” column. Focusing on the need for individuals to communicate their decisions to family members, Quindlen declared, “I propose that the organ donation networks of this country create a day called the Open Your Heart Day. It would be a day for people to tell their loved ones about how they feel about organ donation, since it is your loved ones who will be left to make that decision.”
Elaine Berg, New York Organ Donor Network President and CEO, highlighted the urgent need for more education and awareness about the importance of donating life. Berg said, “As we gather here tonight, more than 82,000 people await life-saving organ transplants. And sadly, they shouldn’t have to. The technology is here and it is successful. The only limiting factor in the wait for an organ is the kindness of others, those who consent to organ donation.”
The celebration honored the Donor Network’s founding transplant surgeons for their vision and extraordinary commitment to patient care, education, and the advancement of transplantation. These visionaries included Drs. Khalid Butt, Mark Hardy, William Stubenbord, Robert Soberman, Lewis Burrows and Vivian Tellis, who were saluted by distinguished physicians, civic and corporate leaders, during the ceremony.
A Community Service Award was presented to donor parents Jean and Bob Carnevale, for their dedication to raising public awareness about donation. The Carnevale family lost their son Michael at the age of 27 in an automobile accident.
Prominent members of the news media including, Richard Roth, Senior UN Correspondent at CNN, Dr. Max Gomez, health and science editor at WNBC-TV, and Maureen Dowd, New York Times columnist, spoke about the effect that organ donation has had on their personal lives.
Roth said, “I’m living proof that transplants work. As a kidney recipient, I am honored to bring an important message to our celebration. If it weren’t for the generosity of my donor, I would’ve not been spared to see the world and report, as I do, for CNN.”
The Dinner Chairman was Roger C. Altman, Chairman of Evercore Partners Inc., a former member of the Clinton administration, and a heart recipient. The Gala Vice-Chairmen were Lewis W. Teperman, M.D., Director of Transplantation at NYU Medical Center and chairperson of the Donor Network board of directors, and Rocco F. Andriola, Esq., Managing Director of Lehman Brothers, Inc. and Vice Chairperson of the Donor Network board.
All proceeds from this event benefited the Donor Network’s public education programs.
For more information, contact Martin Woolf, 212-870-3960 or
mwoolf@nyodn.org
|
