Gift of Life and Grotto Pizza Celebrate Unique Campaign to Raise Awareness of Organ Donation in Delaware

4/14/2010

Wilmington, DE, April 12, 2010

Gift of Life Donor Program and Grotto Pizza celebrated their unique partnership to raise awareness of organ and tissue donors at a kickoff event at Grotto Pizza on Pennsylvania Avenue in Wilmington on Tuesday, April 6. Wilmington Mayor James Baker, New Castle County Council President Paul Clark and State Representative Stephen Martelli joined Dominick Pulieri, president and founder of Grotto Pizza, and Gift of Life volunteers and guests at the special celebration.

In his remarks, John Green, Community Relations Director for Gift of Life Donor Program, noted that this is a one-of-a-kind partnership, and donor programs throughout the country are interested in the campaign. The goal of the “Life is like a Pizza. It’s meant to be shared.” campaign is 3,000 new designated donors throughout Delaware. Currently, 41.8 % of registered drivers have placed the organ donor designation on their driver’s license or state I.D. card. Today, more than 6,200 people throughout our region are waiting for a lifesaving organ transplant. Still thousands of others wait for a tissue transplant that will greatly enhance the quality of their lives.

The Mayor thanked the partners for coming together for the benefit of all Delawareans and told the audience he was excited to have the campaign kickoff in the city. The campaign will encourage those who have not yet signed up to go online at www.donatelife-de.org and become a designated donor.

“For the past 50 years, Grotto Pizza has been lucky to enjoy constant statewide community support,” said Pulieri. “As a way to give back, Grotto Pizza strives to be an active part of all communities through partnerships like the one we have with Gift of Life.” During April and May, throughout the state, Grotto Pizza will also be hosting special ½-Price Pizza Nights to celebrate life. Gift of Life will also visit University of Delaware’s campus to educate students about organ and tissue donation and the importance of signing up to be an organ donor.

Gift of Life Donor Program is the nonprofit, federally designated organ procurement organization serving Delaware, eastern Pennsylvania and southern New Jersey. Within Gift of Life’s region, more than 6,200 men, women and children are waiting for a lifesaving organ transplant. Eighteen of them die each day because an appropriate match was not found in time. One organ, tissue and eye donor may save up to eight lives and help more than 50 people. For more information on organ and tissue donation, please call Gift of Life at 1-800-DONORS-1 (1-800-366-6771) or visit our website at www.donatelife-de.org.