PRSSA hosts 18th annual Organ Donor Day

We all want to contribute to the some causes, but our schedules are jam-packed and we’re constantly on the go. But chances are, if you knew that all you had to do to register as an organ donor was to sign up online—and by doing so you could potentially save up to eight lives—you might decide to.

Senior psychology major Jisette Soto did thanks to PRSSA’s Organ Donor Day, and while she may be only one person, she is making a difference.

“My stepfather’s sister donated her kidney and it saved my stepfather’s life. I had been wanting to sign up to be an organ donor but had just not had the chance, until today,” Soto said.

Currently, 106,629 people are waiting for an organ donor in the United States, hanging in a balance between life and death, but many are simply not aware of how simple it is to become a donor. All it takes is the click of a button.

18 years ago, Anthony J. Fulginiti, founder of Rowan’s PRSSA chapter received an organ transplant. Tuesday, April 27, was Rowan’s 18th Organ Donor Day.

The event was held on the patio of the Chamberlain Student Center and hosted in conjunction with the Gift of Life Donor Program, a non-profit organ and tissue donor program serving Philadelphia, New Jersey and Delaware and the Chris Klug Foundation’s Donor Dudes, a national grassroots, high school and college campus youth outreach program sponsored by the Chris Klug Foundation. The day was geared towards educating and informing students about organ donation.

PRSSA members encouraged students sign up as organ donors and spread awareness to friends and family. Participants enjoyed free food and beverages, various games, give-aways and live entertainment from performers We Were Once Children, an unsigned band from Toms River, and Rowan senior secondary education and English major Dan Wythoff.

Junior radio/TV/film major Lindsey Hand heard We Were Once Children performing and came to check out the event. Hand also had her picture taken inside the larger-than-life organ donor driver’s license.

“Music draws people. I didn’t really know what the event was all about, but I heard the music all the way across campus, saw the crowd, and came to check it out,” Hand said.

During the event, 103 students signed up to become organ donors. It took senior publican relations major Lauren Bottazzi, coordinator of PRSSA’s Organ Donor Day, three committees to put on the event, in addition to coordinating with Sodexo and the Student Center.

“I didn’t have to do this, but I firmly believe in organ donor awareness, and I want to strongly encourage students to start conversations with their friends and families at home. Students can save lives,” Bottazzi said.

Another highlight of the event was the human organ donor ribbon. At 1:30 p.m., about 30 students gathered together to outline the shape of a ribbon on the patio of the Chamberlain Student Center.

Sophomore marketing major Louiza Ouazzi walked up to the event early on, but was on a tight schedule with classes. After class, Ouazzi made it a point to come back and sign up.

“Thankfully, it’s easy to become an organ donor. I’ll definitely be talking to my family when I go home,” Ouazzi said.

For more information on how to become an organ donor, you can go to donors1.org or the Rowan PRSSA website rowanprssa.org.