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WHEREAS on August 1, 2007, the Center for Organ Recovery and Education (CORE) will celebrate National Minority Donor Awareness Day in the City of Pittsburgh; and
WHEREAS because of the statistical relationship that exists between particular minority groups and certain health conditions, approximately 51% of the 100,000 individuals currently on the national organ transplant waiting list are minorities; and
WHEREAS since 1996, National Minority Donor Awareness Day has been celebrated annually across the United States in order to increase registration on the "Donate Life" list of committed organ donors, while additionally seeking to improve public awareness of the need for organ donation across all races and ethnic groups; and
WHEREAS National Minority Donor Awareness Day organizers recognize the impending public health crisis that will occur without immediate action, as demand for organ transplants continues to increase; and
WHEREAS CORE promotes organ transplantation through its support of research and education throughout Western Pennsylvania, West Virginia, and Chemung County, New York; and
WHEREAS CORE has also introduced the "Communities for Life" program to the region as an initiative which creates donation awareness, offers assistance to families of donors and recipients, and provides public health education.
NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Council of the City of Pittsburgh does hereby wish to commend the efforts of the Center for Organ Recovery and Education for its ongoing efforts to promote organ donation and increase public awareness regarding transplantation within the Western Pennsylvania region; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Council of the City of Pittsburgh does hereby also wish to proclaim August 1, 2007, as National Minority Donor Awareness Day in the City of Pittsburgh.