CORE launches social media campaign to promote organ donation

The Center for Organ Recovery & Education (CORE) launched a social media campaign to spread awareness and recruit new organ donors.

The campaign, dubbed #JustOne, aims to demonstrate how many lives just one new organ donor could save.

“The very fact that one donor can save eight lives showcases the impact just one new registration can make,” CORE CEO Susan Stuart said. “That is why we initiated this campaign and why we continue to work every day to deliver the gift of hope to those waiting for a life-saving transplant.”

The need for organ and tissue donors is critical, with over 110,000 people waiting for life-saving transplants nationwide, according to CORE. Approximately 2,500 of those waiting are in Pennsylvania and West Virginia, CORE said.

The Just One campaign, featured on CORE’s Facebook, Twitter and Instagram, encourages CORE’s online community to tag one person to register for organ donation each day. Each day is themed, with CORE encouraging people to tag just one friend who falls into categories like proud parent, photographer or dog lover.

Cybele Boehm, a mother and kidney recipient, experienced first-hand the life-changing impact of organ donation. Join the challenge and tag #JustOne mother to sign up to be an organ donor at https://t.co/1HgeMqsQhg. pic.twitter.com/jfmvsWZNhB

— CORE (@COREDonateLife) July 29, 2020

To reach a broader audience, CORE has teamed up with several local advocates, including Lynn Johnson, a Pulitzer Prize finalist and local photographer who documented the youngest face transplant in the country; Rob Rossi, a sports writer; Randy Baumann, a WDVE-FM morning show radio host; Courtney and Kelly Brennan, sisters, bloggers and former Pittsburgh television reporters; and Cody Baker, a Pittsburgh photographer.

The photo challenge will continue through Aug. 7.

For more information or to register to become an organ donor, visit the Just One campaign’s website.