Finger Lakes Donor Recovery Network > News & Views
News & Views
Volunteers & Partners Help Make Donate Life Month a Huge Success
May 24th, 2018 by Nancy Ryan
Take a look at some of the fantastic activities that our County DMV’s, hospitals, transplant centers and community partners, and volunteers put together to make Donate Life Month 2018 one of the best ever!
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- Cayuga County Clerk Susan Dwyer (center) and DMV Supervisor Shereen Androsko (right) joined by FLDRN's Amy James at Cayuga County's Donate Life Month Kick-off!
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- Brian Dahl, former Cayuga County EMO Director who received a liver transplant a few months ago, and his wife, along with DMV Supervisor Shereen Androsko and FLDRN's Amy James
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- Group photo of our Cayuga County DMV Staff in front of the Giving Tree which will have people's names added to leaves if they register as organ donors.
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- The Cayuga County DMV even treated visitors to popcorn as part of their Donate Life Month Kick-off! But...
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- The popcorn machine set off the fire alarm in the six-story building! In the words of Cayuga County Clerk Susan Dwyer, "...kick-off week was a real hot one!"
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- The Cayuga County DMV treating its customers to popcorn during their Donate Life Month Kick-Off
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- Monroe County Clerk Adam Bello launches the County's DMV offices' outreach for Donate Life Month by hosting a flag raising ceremony and press conference outside the Greece DMV
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- Monroe County's Henrietta DMV branch all decked out for Donate Life Month
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- Upstate Community General Hospital's Donate Life Month kick-off
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- Upstate Community General Hospital's Donate Life Month kick-off
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- Upstate Community General Hospital's Donate Life Month kick-off
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- Rochester General Hospital staff and volunteers take their Donate Life Month activities outside of the hospital for the home opener at Roc City Roller Derby!
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- Donna Ferris of St. Joseph's Hospital and Anthony Calangelo, owner of "The Shop" in East Syracuse, get ready for Donate Life Month celebrations.
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- Volunteers organized by St. Joseph's Hospital delivered Donate Life posters to nearly 100 businesses in the Northeast Neighborhood of Syracuse
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- Volunteers organized by St. Joseph's Hospital delivered Donate Life posters to nearly 100 businesses in the Northeast Neighborhood of Syracuse
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- St. Joseph's Hospital recognized for its Donate Life efforts
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- Paint Westvale Purple - Donate Life Table
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- Team Finger Lakes - Bowling Fun!
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- Team Finger Lakes - Bowling Fun!
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- Team Finger Lakes - Bowling Fun!
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- Team Finger Lakes - Bowling Fun!
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- Team Finger Lakes - Bowling Fun!
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- Team Finger Lakes - Bowling Fun!
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- Team Finger Lakes - Bowling Fun!
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- Photo courtesy of the Rochester Americans
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- Emily Gokey, a heart and kidney recipient, was selected for this year's honorary puck drop. Photo courtesy of the Rochester Americans
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- Photo courtesy of the Rochester Americans
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- Photo courtesy of the Rochester Americans
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- Photo courtesy of Rochester Americans
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- Heroes of Donation get ready for the Opening Ceremonies at Donate Life Night with the Rochester Amerks
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- Heroes of Organ Donation hold the flag during opening ceremonies of Superhero / Donate Life Night with the Rochester Amerks
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- Thank you to Richard Perez (left) for hosting a Donate Life Table at Strong Memorial Hospital on Tuesdays and Thursdays throughout April!
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- Jefferson County DMV's creative wall art for Donate Life Month!
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- Rome Memorial Hospital's Donate Life Month Event
Volunteer Richard Perez Selected for Prestigious Award
February 20th, 2018 by Nancy Ryan
Richard Perez Wins Volunteer Award
Long-time Finger Lakes Donor Recovery Network volunteer Richard Perez has been selected as one of two Volunteer recipients for this year’s Rochester Business Journal Health Care Achievement Awards for his outstanding efforts in making a significant impact on the quality of health care in the Rochester area.
Since receiving his life-saving liver transplant in July 2003, Richard has made it his mission to create an ongoing community conversation about organ, eye and tissue donation.
Through countless Donate Life-related events that he organized or participated in, Richard has likely helped to enroll thousands in the New York State Donate Life Registry. Most inspiring has been his compassion for patients who are waiting for a transplant through Strong Memorial Hospital’s Transplant Program. Over the past 14 years, Richard has volunteered more than 5,000 hours at the hospital, providing these patients and their families hope and comfort through their transplant journeys.
Finger Lakes Donor Recovery Network Executive Director, Rob Kochik, says, “Not only is Richard a stand-out in the world of volunteering, he’s also one of the most delightful people you’d ever want to meet!”
Please join us in congratulating him on this well-deserved award! Read about the Rochester Business Journal’s 2018 Health Achievement Awards
October 6th is Organ Donor Enrollment Day!
October 5th, 2016 by Nancy Ryan
Finger Lakes Donor Recovery Network is rallying community members to make October 6th, 2016 the day to take action and join the New York State Donate Life Registry.
During last year’s inaugural Organ Donor Enrollment Day, thousands of New Yorkers made the decision to pass life on by registering as organ and tissue donors. Organ Donor Enrollment Day also generated hope…that New Yorkers do care and will take action and that New York can do great things!
Here’s What You Can Do on October 6th:
- Join the New York State Donate Life Registry! It only takes a few minutes to fill out and send in the enrollment form. Anyone over age 18 can register, regardless of medical history. Go to www.passlifeon.org and click to enroll!
- Think you might be registered, but not sure? Fill out the enrollment form, just to be certain. It’s important to document your consent to be an organ and tissue donor, and the best way to do that is by joining the New York State Donate Life Registry. Even if you previously enrolled, information (like your address) will be updated.
- Already a registered donor? Give yourself a pat on the back! Making your decision to pass life on through organ donation not only could help save lives, but it’s a gift to your family, as well. It relieves them of having to make the decision on your behalf.
Go Social on Organ Donor Enrollment Day!
On October 6th, proudly share on your social media that you just joined the New York State Donate Life Registry or are already enrolled as an organ donor. Doing so will help spread the word about the importance of making the decision and signing up.
- Invite friends to enroll in the Registry by adding a link to www.passlifeon.org
- Invite friends to follow Finger Lakes Donor Recovery Network’s Facebook Page and Twitter
- Include our special hashtag: #passlifeon
With your help, we’ll make Organ Donor Enrollment Day in New York State a huge success and give hope to the nearly 10,000 people currently waiting for a life-saving transplant in New York.
WSKG Radio: Pending Legislation In Albany Would Ease Registering For Organ Donation
April 22nd, 2016 by Nancy Ryan
During National Donate Life Month in April, WSKG Radio reported on how New York State continues to have one of the lowest percentages of its residents signed up to be organ donors. WSKG interviewed Rob Kochik, the executive director of Finger Lakes Donor Recovery Network.
Mr. Kochik told the radio station legislation pending in Albany could help increase the number of people signing the donor registry. If it were to become law, one part of the legislation — which has already passed the state senate — would allow those who are 16 and 17-years-old to enroll in the registry when they apply for their driver’s license.
“Right now they have to wait until they’re 18 and by then, they’re often doing other things and never get around to it,” Mr. Kochik said. His comments coincided with a Donate Life Month event at Upstate University Hospital.
FIND OUT MORE FROM WSKG RADIO ABOUT THE PENDING LEGISLATION
Finger Lakes Donor Recovery Network Celebrates National Donate Life Month
March 30th, 2016 by Nancy Ryan
During April, FLDRN focuses on the importance of organ, eye and tissue donation — inspired by sunflowers, and with a full program of events.
April is National Donate Life Month, when Finger Lakes Donor Recovery Network (FLDRN) joins organizations, families and individuals across the U.S. to promote the importance of organ, eye and tissue donation.
More than 121,000 adults and children nationwide need a life-saving organ transplant. In New York State, nearly 10,000 people are awaiting transplants, with over 600 of those on a waiting list in our region.
This year’s inspiration: The sunflower
Rob Kochik, FLDRN’s executive director.
This year’s National Donate Life Month theme is inspired by the mighty sunflower. Rob Kochik, FLDRN’s executive director, explains that the sunflower symbolizes the power of life-giving renewal.
“Sunflowers follow the light throughout their lives, inspiring us to do the same by living life to the fullest,” Mr. Kochik says. “The potential of one sunflower to create an entirely new field of flowers from its thousands of seeds represents the same potential we each have to pass life on by registering as an organ, eye and tissue donor.”
Mr. Kochik is asking the entire community to support Donate Life Month’s message, which is that one organ donor can save up to eight lives, and one eye and tissue donor can improve the lives of up to 50 people.
“Join us at our events in April,” he says, “to help share the messages of organ donation, and to honor organ donors and their families who passed life on.”
Join the Donate Life Registry and pass life on
Finger Lakes Donor Recovery Network is encouraging people to have conversations with their families and document their wishes about organ donation. By doing so, family members will have the peace of mind knowing what their loved one wanted.
Here are links to enroll in the New York State Donate Life Registry.
New Yorkers can also join the Donate Life Registry when they register to vote. The form is available online.
