LESS THEN HALF THE MEN IN MINNESOTA ARE REGISTERED TO BE AN ORGAN & TISSUE DONOR

Check out this very innovative ad from our friends in Minnesota!

Less than half the men aged 45-65 in Minnesota are registered to be organ and tissue donors.

Minnesota men in this age category register to be organ and tissue donors at a lower rate than the general population. The Half The Men initiative seeks to raise the rate of registration in this group to 50% by the end of October 2009, resulting in more than 13,000 new organ and tissue registrants. Knowing that one person can save or enhance up to 60 lives through organ and tissue donation, the impact on those waiting for a transplant would be significant.

The Half The Men campaign is sponsored by LifeSource, the organ procurement organization for the Upper Midwest. To learn more about why registering to be an organ and tissue donor is so important, or to register yourself, visit DonateLifeMN.org.

Visit the Half The Men Campaign

MISSOURI HEART TRANSPLANT RECIPIENT PROMOTES ORGAN DONATION

LaKeisha Coleman, education coordinator with Mid-America Transplant Services, works with Bonds and others to tell black people about organ donation. Blacks need more donors for certain organs such as kidneys and lungs because they are harder to match outside of ethnic groups, she said.

Statistics from Mid-America Transplant Services, based in St. Louis, say that this year in the St. Louis region, 61 percent of black people eligible to sign donor permissions, have done so, compared to 93 percent of white people.

The challenge, they say, is that too many black's don't trust the transplant system. They fear their organs would be take from blacks prematurely to save white patients. And they point to the medical atrocities committed in the United States against Black people, as well as continuing disparities in medical care for Black people.

Coleman said transplants are anonymous and handled by different agencies. " The doctors who (harvests) the organs won't be the same who does the transplant surgery."

To read the full article about hear transplant recipient Larry Bonds and how he and Mid-America Transplant Services are raising awareness for organ, eye and tissue donation please click HERE

To become an organ donor in St. Louis area please visit Mid-America Transplant Services

To learn more about organ donation or to become a donor in your state please click HERE

A note from Donate Life Organ & Tissue Donation Blog - we encourage every transplant recipient to become a spokespersons for organ, eye & tissue donation as it is our obligation to give back for our second chance of life. We extend our thanks to Larry Bonds for being a great role model. Please contact your local Organ Procurement Organization and volunteer to be an Ambassador.

LIFELINE OF OHIO CREATES A "SEA OF GREEN" IN DOWNTOWN OHIO

8/19/09 -- More than 2,000 runners, walkers and supporters crowded into Nationwide Plaza on August 15, 2009 for one cause: organ and tissue donation.

The 10^th Annual Dash for Donation was the biggest yet, exceeding last year’s participation by 30 percent! Runners and walkers created a “Sea of Green” by donning green race t-shirts to signify their connection with donation and showcase the impact of donation.

“It’s incredible to see how many lives have been touched by organ and tissue donation,” said Terri Louder, community outreach coordinator for Lifeline of Ohio and race coordinator. “We literally took the message of donation to the streets of Columbus and it was quite powerful.”

The event, which was made possible by more than 120 volunteers and staff, included a ½-Marathon and relay, 5k, 1k Family Fun Walk and the first-ever Kids and Mascots Dash. Kids raced with 16 of their favorite local mascots including Lifeline of Ohio’s Honey Bee and Brutus Buckeye. See a video recap here: YouTube Video. Participants also enjoyed entertainment from Power 107.5, CD101, Bagpiper Jeff Lyn, Hugon Music and C-Dance Studio Troup along the course.

Dash for Donation attendees came from all over the country, representing 14 states, including California and Oregon! More than 52 teams participated in the event representing two churches, five hospitals nine local business and many families connected to donation. The largest team “Team Lindsay,” included 89 members who ran in memory of organ and tissue donor Lindsay Jones from Dublin, Ohio. Donor families also paid tribute to loved ones who gave the “Gift of Life” by placing posters on the Donor Remembrance Wall, which was placed at the finish line.

Please visit Lifeline of Ohio and register to become a donor

To learn more about organ donation and how to become a donor in your state please click HERE

INTERNATIONAL ORGAN DONATION AWARENESS CAMPAIGN - AUSTRALIA'S BIGGEST SNOWMAN AT MT. BULLER

Measuring in at a lofty seven meters tall Zaidee's Giant Rainbow Snowman cut an impressive figure high on Mt. Buller today, August 28, 2009.

The project to build Australia's biggest snowman began back in July at Mt. Buller for Zaidee's Rainbow Foundation to help raise awareness about organ & tissue donation.

The completion of the giant snowman was celebrated today with an excited crowd cheering as the rainbow scarf was added as the finishing fourish.

Allen Turner, CEO of Zaidee's Rainbow Foundation and father of Zaidee was on hand to add the final touches to the giant snowman; "It's been fantastic to see how excited everyone is today as we went past the seven meter mark on this giant snowman. We wanted to create something fun for the families at Mt. Buller this winter that also symbolizes the cycle of life and the work we do at Zaidee's Rainbow Foundation."

"Our Foundation encourages people to think about organ & tissue donation and talk to their children and loved ones about the difference it can make to others. This spectacular snowman has brought a lot of joy and he will then be donated back into the slopes on Mt. Buller again."

"Our beautiful daughter died in 2004 aged just 7 years and 22 days and donated her organs and tissue, as was her last wish. She was one of the youngest Australian's to donate her organ and tissue at the time and was able to help many others wit her life-saving gifts."

"Mt Buller is proud to have been a part of this exciting challenge to build Australia's snowman and to support Zaidee's Rainbow Foundation by raising awareness for this important cause this winter," said Laurie Blampied, General Manager of Buller Ski Lifts. The Buller sky lifts mountain operations team help construct the giant snowman with the help of visitors over the past 6 weeks.

Thank you Allen Turner for sending your story to be shared with our readers.

For more information on the work of the Zaidee's Rainbow Foundation go to www.zaidee.org

For more information or photographs please contact Steve Peuschel

To become an organ, eye & tissue donor in Australia please click HERE

To learn more about becoming a donor in the United States please click HERE

If our blog visitor would like to share their stories on their efforts to raise awareness for organ & tissue donation please sent photos and story to Glenn Matsuki

NATCO, THE ORGANIZATION FOR TRANSPLANT PROFESSIONALS RECENTLY HELD THEIR 34TH ANNUAL MEETING IN LAS VEGAS

This past August, NATCO, The Organization for Transplant Professionals held their 34th Annual Meeting at the Red Rock Resort in Las Vegas. This short slideshow captures a small portion of the conference attended by over 350 participants who dedicated themselves to the advancement of organ & tissue donation and transplantation by attending four days of seminars covering all areas in donation and transplantation.

The NATCO membership is comprised of a diverse group of transplant professionals who through the numerous educational programs ensures that its membership is on the cutting edge of the most recent developments and technologies in transplantation today.

This is somewhat of a departure for the Donate Life Organ & Tissue Donation Blog, and is meant to educate our visitors that there are many tireless transplant professional who are passionate about helping the over 110,000 registrants on the national wait list taking time, often on their own personal time to ensure that they are at the top of their game. We encourage everyone to become an organ, eye & tissue donor in support of them.

Transplant Professionals who wish to join NATCO please visit there website HERE

We are looking for more pictures to add to this slideshow so if you have any to send please email us HERE

STAND ON THE GRAND FOR ORGAN DONATION

This is a great story about a team of cardiac nurses climbing the Grand Tetons to raise awareness for organ donation.

“He got a heart! Greg got a heart!”

Sarah had just checked her work voice mail after returning from climbing the Grand Teton in Wyoming the previous day. Greg had been waiting for a heart for almost four months while being kept alive by a total artificial heart. The timing of this news, although happy when ever it comes, could not have been more inspiring.

Sarah and I been asked to join a team of cardiac nurses to climb the Grand Teton in an effort to raise awareness for organ donation. The team would accompany Kelly Perkins, a heart transplant recipient and avid mountain climber. The purpose of the climb was to inspire others to live healthy lifestyles, to reach their goals and to raise awareness about organ donation. I was asked to document this accomplishment with photo and video, as Kelly is the first heart transplant recipient to summit the Grand. What is even more incredible is that Kelly and her husband, Craig, were completing the entire Grand Traverse, which includes climbing not only the Grand Teton, but the six other peaks immediately surrounding it.

Full Story

To register to be an organ donor in Utah please visit Yes Utah!

To learn how to be an organ donor in your state please click HERE

DONATE LIFE MEETS GAVIN ROSSDALE - DONATE LIFE CONCERT SERIES AUGUST 26, 2009

While working on the slideshow from the Donate Life Concert with Gavin Rossdale, we thought we would post a short slideshow of the Gavin Rossdale meeting the Donate Life folks consisting of transplant recipients and living donors sharing their stories and connection to organ, eye & tissue donation. Gavin was very moved by this experience as demonstrated by his mentioning on stage during his concert about our meeting and how important the cause is to him. He also relayed his experience on E! Television interview the next day.

One of Donate Life's mission is to speak to as many celebrities as possible to share our transplant stories in hopes of gaining their support and celebrity endorsement. As you can see we are making an impact and encourage everyone to do the same.

To become a donor in the state of California please visit Donate Life Caiifornia

To learn more about donation in your state please click HERE

DONATE LIFE CALIFORNIA PARTICIPATES IN BOEING'S EMPLOYEE HEALTH & WELLNESS FIESTA

Thank you Boeing for inviting Donate Life California to participate in your Health & Wellness Fiesta on August 27, 2009. OneLegacy Ambassadors Dave Ackerman, Jim Krupa and OneLegacy's Hospital Services Coordinator Glenn Matsuki participated in the event raising awareness for organ, eye & tissue donation to approximately 400 Boeing employees.

As you know the Donate Life Organ and Tissue Donation Blog likes to include photos of the event however because of the location within Boeing's facility, photographs were not allowed - high security area!

We encourage corporations with health fairs, annual competencies and picnics to invite your local Donate Life Organization to participate and talk about the critical need for donation as the national transplant waitlist rises above the 110,000 registrants.

DOWNLOAD AN "ANGEL" FOR DONATE LIFE!

DEAR DONATE LIFE COMMUNITY

Donate Life is delighted to announce that All-4-One, the Grammy Award-winning R&B/pop group renowned for their 1994 classic “I Swear,” has released a new song inspired by organ donors and transplant recipients, “When I Needed An Angel.” The song, from their forthcoming album No Regrets, is now available on iTunes,.

The group wrote “When I Needed An Angel” after being touched by inspirational stories of people affected by organ and tissue donation. We are truly honored to have made this connection and are certain that once you hear the song it will touch your heart and you will realize that All-4-One has truly delivered an angel to the Donate Life mission!

The members of All-4-One – Jamie, Delious, Tony and Alfred – are proud to support the Donate Life community. “It means the world to us to be able to contribute something outside of our constant prayers to help people receive an extension of life. Every download of ‘When I Needed An Angel’ will inspire someone to become a donor and help the more than 103,000 people now waiting for a life-saving organ transplant.”

The group states, “We were inspired to write ‘When I Needed an Angel’ after meeting Craig and Kathleen Hostert of the wonderful Donate Life organization. They shared their personal story of how Craig received his kidney donation from Kathleen, which really touched us and motivated us to get involved with saving lives and educating people about organ donation. We also realized that their story partly parallels the story of a good friend of ours, Tyla Newbold, who we met on tour years ago and was in desperate need of a liver transplant.” Tyla had been too ill to attend an All-4-One concert, so the group came to her – through phone calls and visits – always encouraging her to stay strong and stay in faith as she waited for her organ transplant.

All-4-One will generously contribute $.40 cents of each download from iTunes to support our collaborative efforts to inspire the nation to donate life! We encourage all of you to inform your community of this opportunity to support our life-saving mission!

To download the song, go to the iTunes Store and enter “When I Needed An Angel” in the search field.

To register to be an organ donor in California visit the California Donor Registry

To learn about becoming a donor in your state please click HERE

INTERNATIONAL ORGAN DONATION AWARENESS CAMPAIGN - URUGUAY

'Alive' plane crash survivors call for organ donors

MONTEVIDEO - Survivors of a 1972 plane crash who resorted to cannibalism to stay alive are urging fellow Uruguayans to sign up for a government-run organ donation program.
The 16 crash survivors, who spent 72 days on a remote mountain in the Andes before being rescued, have agreed to lead "an awareness campaign" with the state-run National Donation and Transplant Institute, crash survivor Jose Luis "Coche" Inciarte told AFP on Wednesday.

The survivors will call for donors to make "a pact with life, like we did up there in the mountains 37 years ago," said Inciarte, referring to an agreement they made that anyone who died would allow themselves to be eaten.
The campaign seeks to double the number of registered organ donors in Uruguay by late 2010.

After Uruguay "we will extend it to other countries," Inciarte said. "First Argentina, where the accident took place; then Chile, where we were rescued from; and then we will continue north," he said.

On October 13, 1972 a Uruguayan Air Force plane bound for Chile with 45 people aboard, including members of a rugby team, crashed in the high Andes.
Twelve people died in the crash and 17 others died over the next days due to injuries and avalanches. On the tenth day the survivors heard on the radio that rescue operations had been suspended, prompting their pact.

The men's plight was chronicled in a best-selling book "Alive" and a Hollywood film of the same name.

DONATE LIFE ENCOURAGES EVERYONE TO USE THEIR ON-LINE SOCIAL NETWORK TO RAISE AWARENESS FOR ORGAN, EYE AND TISSUE DONATION

Below is a great example of how one individual can make a big difference in raising awareness for organ, eye & tissue donation. Dazaree is from Malaysia and is using her social networking skills to communicate around the globe, its just that easy.

So why don't we all use our Facebook, MySpace, web page, personal blogs, twitter for the next 7 days to encourage your family, friends and co-workers to learn more about donation and to sign-up to be an organ donor.

When you post your message, email us with your link so we may be able to post your message on our Donate Life Blog and share your message with our readers.

Get ready, set, GO!

Tuesday, August 11, 2009

A Gift of Life Tag

I am not sure what struck me. But I'm sure it must be a good thing. And this entry is .....*long pause*.....
Truthfully, there are no words to explain this sudden instinct/desire/need/urge. What word should I use? Let's just say I opened my eyes to whole new dimension. Or maybe I woke up feeling just a bit charitable.
But, that's not exactly it.
The feeling wasn't triggered oh-so-out-of-the-blue. I once thought of it.
And yesterday, it crossed my mind again after listening to some organ donor commercial.
And today, I've decided that I should. And so, I will.
I may not turn out to be a doctor. Doctors can't be hemaphobias. *laughs rolling on the floor* So, I guess, I'll give the gift of life in a way that I can.
Organ Donors Pledgers Statistics in Malaysia (until 30th June 2009)

	132,020 people pledged for organ donation.
	92,633 people pledged for all organs an tissues.
	9,719 people pledged for organ donation in 2009.
	Selangor rated 26,347 which is the highest pledgers until now.

Sadly, Sabah rates among the lowest pledgers (<2500).

Click here to register and join me in this cause. Please let me know if you are joining the circle (register yourself first!):

How to Be an Organ Donor?
I Pledge to be an Organ Donor
1. Dazeree Joan Joannes
2. Are you next?

To visit Dazeree's blog please click HERE

DONATE LIFE CONCERT SERIES @ THE GROVE FEATURING MICHELLE BRANCH - HERE IS THE SLIDE SHOW!

The August 19th Donate Life Concert at the Grove in Los Angeles ROCKED! The crowd swelled to over 4,000 and it was a perfect Southern California summer evening. The opening act was American Idol Contestant Jason Castro who is releasing his new album soon. Women in the audience was yelling " I love you Jason" throughout his sets which included his new song off his album "Lets Just Fall in Love Again."

Donate Life California President, Bryan Stewart said a few words about the importance of registering on the California Donor Registry and introduced "Pokka Dot", the Donate Life California mascot who welcomed Michelle Branch. Michelle thrilled the crowd many of whom sang along to her standards and were very excited when she sang a few songs off her new album. In the end, Michelle thanked Donate Life for sponsoring the concert and also encouraged the audience to become donors because she is a donor herself and believes in this important cause; the video segment is included in the slide show.

To become an organ, eye and tissue donor visit Donate Life California

To learn more about how to become a donor in your state please click HERE

To download a full resolution version of this slide show please click HERE

Thank you for supporting Donate Life. We look forward to seeing everyone at the August 26th Donate Life Concert @ The Grove featuring Gavin Rossdale

DONATE LIFE CTDN - REGIONAL MEDICAL CENTER OF SAN JOSE, CALIFORNIA HOSTS DONATE LIFE DAY - AUGUST 20, 2009

Regional Medical Center of San Jose hosted a Donate Life Day as part of their campaign to inform their staff and community about the importance of registering as an organ, eye & tissue donor on the Donate Life California Donor Registry! California Transplant Donor Network (CTDN) Donate Life Ambassadors were there to share their stories with the staff and visitors.

This event was strongly supported by the RMC Donation Council and demonstrates how high level involvement of hospital leadership along with the hospitals taking ownership of the donation process can make a huge difference in helping grieving families and also to save lives.

We encourage hospitals who do not have donor councils to establish one by contacting their local organ procurement organization and ask them to help and participate. We also encourage hospitals to routinely host organ donation & donor registry sign-ups on a regular basis.

To learn more about organ donation please visit California Transplant Donor Network

To register to become an organ donor in California please visit Donate Life California

To learn more about becoming a donor in your state please click HERE

INTERNATIONAL NEWS- CHINA TARGET ILLEGAL TRANSPLANT OF ORGANS

ILLEGAL TRANSPLANT OF ORGANS TARGETED

SOURCE: CHINA DAILY

Our second International story is that of news coming out of China in their efforts to stem transplant tourism into China. China is attempting to make great strides in bringing their transplant policies in line with World Health Organization (WHO) guidelines recently issues to member countries. Such guidelines recently affected changes in Japan's organ donation laws. We are encouraged by what we are learning because here in the United States, it is illegal to sell organs and although organ allocation is not perfect, UNOS regulations are as equitable in dealing with the critical shortage of donated organs. Because of the inequity in international organ donation laws and the critical need for organ, many have sought medical tourism to receive their life saving transplant.

You can make a difference as can everyone around the world because the need for organ donation is critical as demonstrated by many of the international news we have been reporting. This is a worldwide issue affecting hundreds of thousands of lives, costing society billions in healthcare costs, affecting so many people - its a human issue. Register to be a donor and save lives.

"A waiting list will be made public to secure transparent and fair practice in terms of organ donation allocation and procurement," said Vice-Minister of Health Huang Jiefu.

The top health authority is launching an overhaul of illegal organ transplants at mainland hospitals, after reports surfaced that some hospitals are illegally doing organ surgeries for foreigners.

The Ministry of Health said that any of the 164 medical institutions qualified to carry out organ transplants nationwide will have their licenses revoked if they cannot pass the ongoing qualification re-examination.

The ministry has named 16 hospitals that it said failed to comply with regulations on organ transplants.

Under the leadership of the National Organ Transplantation Committee and the ministry, an expert team has begun final evaluation of the remaining organ transplant practitioners.

"We'll let the people know and decide which hospital to go to for quality and ethical transplants," a ministry official told China Daily.

Organ transplants in China are covered by regulations passed in 2007 that established national oversight and credentials for Chinese transplant officials.

The regulations also banned organ trade, prevented organ trafficking and "transplant tourism" for foreigners and established a national organ donation system that includes deceased and living donors.

Official estimates indicate that 2 million Chinese need organ transplants each year, but only 20,000 operations are performed because of a severe shortage of donors.

Some hospitals have ignored the statutes and sold organs to foreigners in order to increase profits. Three hospitals were penalized for illegally selling human organs to foreigners in 2008.

In February, the ministry launched an investigation into a report by Japan's Kyoto News that said 17 Japanese tourists each spent about 595,000 yuan ($87,000) for liver or kidney transplant operations at an unidentified hospital in Guangzhou.

Such an operation usually costs 100,000 yuan at qualified Chinese hospitals.

A surgeon who didn't want to be named told China Daily that the hospital where he worked was still performing organ transplants on foreigners who were willing to pay.

"The hospital can fake their identities to fool the authorities," he said.

The Red Cross Society of China, in collaboration with the ministry, plans to establish an independent organ donation system, which would include a waiting list of patients and stipulations on the sources of donations, according to its executive vice-president, Jiang Yiman.

Organs from prisoners who were executed - with written consent either from themselves or family members - provide one source of donations.

"A waiting list will be made public to secure transparent and fair practice in terms of organ donation allocation and procurement," said Vice-Minister of Health Huang Jiefu.

INTERNATIONAL AWARENESS CAMPAIGNS: ORGAN DONATION FOUNDATION OF SOUTH AFRICA HAS DECLARED AUGUST AS "ORGAN DONOR MONTH"

The Organ Donor Foundation of South Africa has declared the month of August “Organ Donor Month”.

This will form part of their ongoing awareness campaign.

The foundation undertakes to educate and promote the need for the public to think about organ donation.

The foundation’s executive director Phillipa Douglas says the country currently has a long waiting list of people waiting for transplants.

These include lungs, heart, kidney, pancreas and liver.

Douglas this month activities will include a charity book sale and awareness campaign.

“We are running a number of charity book sales, we are running a promotion at the waterfront and out website is constantly updated with information and we’ll also have a donor tribute around the country,” she said.

Douglas concluded that they are just out there to schools and companies and encouraging the public be more aware about donor services.

She urged the public who are interested to contact them to learn more about their foundation.

Currently there are over 3,500 South Africans waiting for an organ and tissue transplant. Because of the critical shortage less than 1,000 of them will receive their life saving "gift of life".

Donate Life Organ Donation Blog periodically reports on international awareness campaigns to show that organ shortages are not just an issue here in the United States, that it is a worldwide human issue with huge societal consequences.

Please learn how to become an organ, eye and tissue donor, please register to be a donor and speak to your family about your wishes to help save lives.

In the U.S. you may learn more by clicking HERE.

"YES UTAH" DIXIE ORGAN MARATHON EVENT (DOME)

Have you ever wanted to compete in a marathon, but just don’t have the time to train? Do you want to be involved in something big that benefits others? Well now your time has come! This is the Marathon for you!!

Cory Reese and a team of marathon runners will be competing in the St. George Marathon on October 3. (If you are running the St. George Marathon, join Cory's team. You'll get another t-shirt, a spaghetti dinner, and an exclusive piano CD. To join Cory's team, email Cory at cory@coryreese.com)

How does this work for me if I'm not running?

Join Cory Reese and his team as you compete in this fund-raising marathon event without ever leaving the comfort of your home!! Introducing the Dixie Organ Marathon Event (DOME), a virtual race.

As a virtual runner, you will have the opportunity to follow Cory's training on his Blogspot "Fast Cory" and you could possibly be featured on our training page. (Email a head shot to dixie@idslife.org.)

So pick your race, pay the race fee , and let the training begin!

$10 – Shadow Runner – I don’t want to run, but would like to contribute

$26.20 – DOME Virtual Runner

$30 or more - DOME Virtual Runner - will also receive an exclusive piano CD featuring Paul Cardall, David Tolk, Jon Schmidt, Cory Reese, Michael Hicks, and Marshall McDonald.

TO REGISTER OR FOR MORE INFORMATION CLICK HERE

To learn more about organ,eye & tissue donation in the state of UTAH visit "Yes Utah"

Talk about an innovative way to get more people involved in an event - Kudos to our friends at Yes Utah!

DONATE LIFE CONCERT SERIES @ THE GROVE AUGUST 19, 2009 FEATURING MICHELLE BRANCH -SURPRISE ANNOUNCEMENT

GUESS WHO WE JUST LEARNED IS THE OPENING ACT FOR MICHELLE BRANCH @ THE FREE DONATE LIFE CONCERT SERIES?

AUGUST 19, 2009

WEDNESDAY, 8 PM

@ The Grove

Los Angeles, CA

You heard it here FIRST!

The Donate Life Concert is FREE no need to RSVP, just arrive early to stake your best vantage point and enjoy the music. Jason Castro, Atlantic Recording artist will be premiering his new single off his new album.

See you all there!

BEACH TENNIS USA, CHARLESTON, SC ACCEPTING DONATIONS FOR DONATE LIFE SOUTH CAROLINA, AUGUST 22, 2009

Charleston Natives Chris Henderson and Phil Whitesell Look To Defend Home Sand

NEW YORK, Aug. 13 /PRNewswire/ — Beach Tennis USA(R), the organization responsible for launching the sport of beach tennis in North America, will hold its Charleston Open, Saturday and Sunday, August 22 and 23 at The Windjammer, on 1008 Ocean Blvd. in Isle of Palms, SC. 2005 and 2006 Beach Tennis USA National Champions and Charleston’s own Phil Whitesell and Chris Henderson, are looking to gain some points in the leaders standing and secure their spots in the 2009 National Championship.

“Beach Tennis Believes,” the official charity of BTUSA, will be accepting donations throughout the weekend on behalf of “Donate Life South Carolina,” whose mission is to promote organ and tissue donation for transplantation and provide patient assistance for South Carolina transplant recipients. Beach Tennis Believes helps raise funds and awareness for community centers and youth programs. For more information about Donate Life South Carolina, visit http://www.donatelifesc.org.

The thrilling play will begin on Saturday, August 22, with the Junior and Amateur tournament from 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. and Men’s Pro Division pool play starting at 2:00 p.m. Sunday, August 23, kicks off with a Coed Doubles tournament from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. There will be open play for the Amateur and Junior Divisions on the courts that are available from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. The Women’s and Men’s Pro Divisions advanced rounds will be begin at 12:00 p.m. with the finals matches beginning at 4:00 p.m. and 5:00 p.m., respectively. The two-day event will conclude at 7:00 p.m. on Sunday night with an after-party at The Windjammer.

Players from all over the country are set to compete for the $1,000 first-place prize, plus a guaranteed spot in the 2009 Beach Tennis USA National Championship in Long Beach, New York, September 5-6.

DONATE LIFE ROSE PARADE FLOAT - HOSPITAL PARTNERS RECOGNIZE THE GENEROSITY OF YOUR DONORS & THEIR FAMILIES ON THE 2010 ROSE PARADE FLOAT

Hospitals worldwide now have the opportunity to honor families of organ, eye and tissue donors that you have served.

The Donate Life roses dedicated by your hospital recognize the generosity of donors and their families and demonstrate your hospital’s compassion for the families you serve. By your participation, your staff will join in a meaningful tribute that reverently celebrates your role as a vital collaborative partner in the organ and tissue donation process. By dedicating roses to organ donors, eye donors, tissue donors, donor families, and/or hospital staff, your hospital becomes an official participant in the Donate Life community’s annual Rose Parade tradition. There are two ways you can participate: Become a Donate Life Rose Sponsor: Dedicate five or more Donate Life Roses to donors, their families, and/or your staff. Host a Donate Life Rose Ceremony: Host a ceremony to welcome donor families back to your hospital, offering a deeply meaningful experience to families and staff alike. As the Donate Life float appears on ABC, NBC, Univision, HGTV and other networks on New Year’s Day, donor families and hospital staff alike will feel overwhelming pride in knowing their dedicated roses are aboard the most celebrated float in the 121-year history of the Rose Parade.

To Learn more about the Donate Family Circle Program please click HERE

See this and past years Family Circle Dedications

To visit the Donate Life Rose Parade web page please click HERE

DONATE LIFE ROSE PARADE FLOAT - DO YOU WANT TO HONOR A DONOR, RECIPIENT, CANDIDATE OR A LOVED ONE TOUCHED BY DONATION ON THE 2010 DONATE LIFE FLOAT?

Individuals worldwide may honor a donor, recipient, candidate or another loved one touched by donation through any of five Donate Life Family Circle packages for individuals and families. Find out how Family Circle proceeds are put to work.

The Honor Package: $25 A rose with the name of your loved one or honoree in the Family Circle Garden Thank you card acknowledging your dedication Your personalized dedication posted on the float website The Remembrance Package: $50 All of the items in the Honor Package A personalized certificate recognizing the gift of a loved one or honoree A replica of the vial placed in the Family Circle Rose Garden One Family Circle logo pin The Celebration Package: $100 All of the items in the Remembrance Package One Rose Parade Souvenir 3-Pin Set (Float Theme, Parade Theme, Rose Logo Pins) One Rose Parade Souvenir Program The Family Package: $200 All of the items in the Remembrance Package Two Rose Parade Souvenir 3-Pin Sets (Float Theme, Parade Theme, Rose Logo Pins) Two Rose Parade Souvenir Programs Five Float Theme pins The Share Package: $250 All of the items in the Family Package A Remembrance Package dedicated through the Family Circle grant program given to a family who would not be able to dedicate a rose To learn more about how to order click HERE.