ECMC & ConnectLife National Donate Life Month Event

For Immediate Release…

NEWS CONTACTS:

Sarah Diina (ConnectLife) at 716.400.7249 / sdiina@ConnectLife.org

Peter Cutler (ECMC) at 716.898.6505 / pcutler@ecmc.edu

Joe Cirillo (ECMC) at 716.898.4300 / jcirillo@ecmc.edu

MEDIA ADVISORY – PHOTO OP – MEDIA ADVISORY

ECMC & ConnectLife

National Donate Life Month Event

WHAT: ECMC and ConnectLife to emphasize importance of Organ, Eye, Tissue & Blood Donation: The Regional Center of Excellence for Transplantation & Kidney Care at ECMC is a state-of-the-art facility dedicated to comprehensive patient care. ConnectLife is WNY’s ONLY organ, eye, tissue, and community blood center. Together, ConnectLife and ECMC are teaming up during Donate Life Month (April) to stress the importance of, and need for, organ, eye, tissue, and blood donations. New York State currently has the third highest need for donors in the country and the third lowest percentage of registered donors nationwide. It is important that ECMC and ConnectLife continue to collaborate and concentrate on increasing the community’s knowledge and understanding about the need for donation and transplantation.

WHEN: Friday, April 11, 2025

•10:30 AM: Flag Raising (Outside Hospital Main Entrance)

•11:00 AM: Donate Life Month Event Celebration (Media Escort from ECMC Front Desk will be provided)

•12:00 PM: Donor Wall Plaque Dedication during Reception (Media Escort from News Conference location will be provided)

WHO: - Welcome: Jessica Mondoux, MBA, BSN, RN, CNOR, VP, Transplant and Renal Services, ECMC

- Thomas J. Quatroche Jr., PhD, Chief Executive Officer, ECMC Corp.

- Kevin Gramlich, Chief Executive Officer, ConnectLife

- Dr. Liise Kayler, Transplant Program & Surgical Director, ECMC

- Diane Cwik, Donor Mother

- Denise Abbey, Heart Transplant Recipient

- William Cochrane, Living Donor

- Damian Griffis, Living Donor Kidney Recipient

- Hon. Michael P. Kearns, Erie County Clerk

- Benediction: Pastor Dr. Garney Davis Jr., Director, Pastoral and Spiritual Care, ECMC

WHERE: ECMC, Main Hospital, 462 Grider Street, Buffalo, NY

WHY: To recognize those who have donated organs and to create greater awareness of the need for organ donation. There are currently over 100,000 people waiting in the U.S., and 10% of these people are from New York.

ATTN. NEWS MEDIA: Suggested arrival by 10:15 A.M. for Flag Raising Outside ECMC Main Hospital Entrance; Suggest arrival by 10:45 A.M. at ECMC Lobby Front Desk for escort to inside event location(s).