On Monday, November 8th the Fashion Institute of Technology hosted their first ever Give Life Event at the college in the John E Reeves Great Hall. The purpose of the event was to raise awareness about the importance of being a registered organ donor. Kristin Molini, a recent recipient of a five organ transplant shared her story of her struggles before and after her transplant. Julia Rivera and Maria Torres (also a transplant survivor) from the New York Organ Donor Network also spoke about the critical need for registered organ donors as New York has one of the lowest percentages of registered organ donors. Celebrity guest in attendance was: Grizz Chapman of 30 Rock, a recent kidney transplant survivor. Danielle Staub, Eric West, Alexa Winner celebrity stylist, Alexander Berardi and Malan Breton; fashion designers. Brice Hall; a celebrity personal trainer, Preston Roberson-Charles from Real World New Orleans, and Amy O’Dell; fashion editor at NY Magazine.
Give Life is a group project of students in the “Principles of Public Relations” class, taught by Professor Loretta Volpe. The project is being led by Christina Alibrandi, with the assistance of Karina Abbaj, James Lim, Alicia Moo-Pow, and Sarah Scott Smith, all of whom are Advertising and Marketing Communications majors.
Raising awareness about organ donation is critical in New York, as the state has one of the lowest percentages of registered organ donors in the country—just 13 percent of individuals age 18 and older.
Currently, close to 110,000 people in the United States are waiting for organ transplants. Approximately 18 people a day die while waiting.. Of those waiting, approximately 9,600 people in New York State need life-saving organ transplants. In 2009, there were just 423 deceased organ donors in the entire state, 285 of them in the greater New York metropolitan area.
Research shows that while college students generally are in favor of organ donation, many are not registered. The goal of the Give Life event is to raise understanding about organ donation and the importance of registering as an organ donor.
The Electronic Signature Act, introduced in the New York State legislature by Assembly Member Richard N. Gottfried and State Senator Thomas K. Duane, and signed in July by Governor David Paterson, will enable New Yorkers to enroll in the state organ donor registry online. However, before it is implemented, New Yorkers will continue to have to download, fill out, print and mail a form.
Organ donation by a single individual can save up to eight lives. A donor who additionally is a registered eye and tissue donor can save or improve up to fifty lives.
Images via 151 studios