Toast To Life

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: DONATE LIFE CONNECTICUT TOAST TO LIFE FUNDRAISER RAISES AWARENESS AND FUNDING FOR ORGAN AND TISSUE DONATION EDUCATION

 Wallingford, CT– Donate Life Connecticut will host its Third Annual Toast to Life fundraiser on June 1, 2010 at 6:00 p.m.  This event will be held at Gouveia Vineyards in Wallingford and will be an evening of wine and light fare, music and silent auctions to honor organ, eye and tissue donors, recipients, and those who died waiting for a life-saving transplant. The proceeds will benefit Donate Life Connecticut’s statewide education programs that inform people about the importance of registering as organ and tissue donors.

This year, the Toast to Life Emcee will be Kristen Cusato, weekday anchor of WTNH’s Good Morning Connecticut.

Tickets are $30 and may be purchased on-line at www.ctorganandtissuedonation.org.  There are currently more than 110,000 people on the national transplant, and 18 people die every day due to the shortage in organs. Donation saves people who are waiting to breathe effortlessly through healthy lungs or going through the discomfort of daily dialysis treatments. Tissue donors restore movement and mobility, help soldiers recover from burn wounds, prevent amputation and literally bring eyesight to the blind.

The mission of this volunteer-based coalition is to increase public education and awareness for all Connecticut residents concerning the lifesaving benefits of organ and tissue donation and increasing the number of transplanted organs and tissues, which give new life and new hope to people suffering from fatal illness or life threatening injury.  The Coalition membership believes that working together with a common voice is the best way to reach their goal.  Donate Life Connecticut is currently comprised of 10 professional agencies and 25 individual members, which includes transplant recipients and donor families.

 ###