Donate Life Maryland Unveils Campaign to Increase Organ Donor Registration Among Baltimore's Hispanic Community

USA - English

• Latin America - español

BALTIMORE, Sept. 7, 2012 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- In celebration of National Hispanic Heritage Month, Donate Life Maryland and The Living Legacy Foundation announce the launch of an advertising, community outreach, retail partner program and website campaign to increase the number of Latinos living in Baltimore who are registered to be organ, tissue or eye donors.

More than 20,000 Latinos living in the U.S. are currently waiting for a life-saving organ transplant. Statistics show Latinos and other minorities have the best chance of a successful organ donation and transplant if the donor is of the same ethnic background. Specifically, of the 47 Latinos in Maryland who are in need of a life-saving organ donation, 33 are waiting for a kidney transplant, which could be provided via a living (or deceased) donor.

The "Toma Un Minuto, Salva Una Vida" (Take A Minute, Save A Life) campaign features professional soccer player Andy Najar. The 60-second radio spot is airing in Spanish on 107.9 El Zol through mid-October.

At only 18 years old, he represented his country, Honduras, at the Senior National Team level. In 2010, he was named the MLS (Major League Soccer) Rookie of the Year. During the 2012 Summer Games, he also played soccer for his country making it as far as the quarterfinals, including a huge upset when the Honduras team defeated Spain.

An important component of the campaign is the "Play for Life" community events, which Donate Life Maryland and The Living Legacy Foundation will host at Clifton Park Soccer Fields on Sunday, September 9 and Sunday, October 21 at Patterson Park. The La Liga and Patterson Park soccer teams, along with more than a dozen other partners, have joined the campaign and will be participating at the events to help raise awareness for organ, eye and tissue donation.

Attendees can play soccer with Najar and get free autographs and pictures taken with him. Other activities at the event include music and appearances by DJ Travieso and Parker from El Zol, free food and beverages from Miguel's Cocina y Cantina, raffles, and giveaways as well as the opportunity to learn more about and talk to Latino donor and recipient families from Baltimore.

Visit any one of the following "Toma Un Minuto, Salva Una Vida" retail partners to register as an organ donor.  Supporting partners: Education Based Latino Outreach (EBLO), Esperanza Center, Centro Hispano, Arcos Restaurant, Carolina's Tex Mex, El Taquito Mexicano, Latin Palace, El Salvador, Don Pedro's Musica Latina, Acapulco, Tela Mares, Taco Jalisco, Palomino Mexican Restaurant and Mi Viejo Pueblito.

For more information, visit www.TomaUnMinutoSalvaUnaVida.org (www.TakeAMinuteSaveALife.org) or call 1-866-MD-DONOR.

The Living Legacy Foundation (LLF) is a non-profit organ and tissue donation program serving the state of Maryland. LLF facilitates the life-saving process of organ and tissue donation, celebrates the generous gifts of organ and tissue donors, supports our donor families, and educates others about the importance of registering as a donor.

Donate Life Maryland is a non-profit organization dedicated to saving and enhancing lives by registering organ, eye and tissue donors. DLMD was established in 2007 by the Living Legacy Foundation of Maryland, the Medical Eye Bank of Maryland and Washington Regional Transplant Community.

SOURCE Living Legacy Foundation