Cougars to honor families touched by organ donations
Submitted by Kane County Cougars
The Kane County Cougars organization will host an “Organ and Tissue Donor Awareness Day” on Saturday, April 21. In conjunction with the 1 p.m. game that afternoon, the Cougars will celebrate National Donate Life Month and give fans an opportunity to support a worthy cause through several opportunities. Fans can receive more information and order tickets for April 21 by calling (630) 232-8811 or by visiting kccougars.com.
Fans attending that game can sign up to be an organ and tissue donor through Gift of Hope Organ & Tissue Donor Network, and have a chance to win a Cougars team autographed bat. People who already have registered to be organ and tissue donors can show their driver’s license to provide proof of registration and be eligible as well.
Also in conjunction with Gift of Hope, the Cougars will honor several families who have been touched by organ and tissue donation, through an on-field ceremony before the game.
“We’re calling on Cougars fans to support this great cause on April 21 by helping promote the importance of donating to save lives — whether that’s as a blood or organ and tissue donor,” said Cougars Director of Public Relations Shawn Touney. “The statistics indicate and support how important this cause is: every 10 minutes, a new person joins the national transplant waiting list, and every 18 minutes someone dies waiting for a lifesaving transplant.”
The Cougars also are partnering with Heartland Blood Centers, which will hold a community blood drive outside Fifth Third Bank Ballpark that day from 11 a.m. until 2 p.m. Fans are encouraged to schedule their appointment in advance by visiting www.heartlandbc.org or by calling (630) 723-2550. A photo ID is required and fans who donate their blood that day will receive a premium gift, courtesy of Heartland Blood Centers.
“We are extremely grateful for the Kane County Cougars’ support of our lifesaving mission,” said Jerry Anderson, president/CEO of Gift of Hope. “More than 113,000 people in this country — including more than 5,000 people in Illinois — are waiting for lifesaving organ transplants. Thousands more will need life-enhancing tissue transplants at some point in their lives. Only through the support of organizations such as the Kane County Cougars and their dedicated fans, can we offer hope to these men, women and children. Working together, we can continue to offer the gift of hope to those in need.”