NATIONAL DONATE LIFE MONTH-OMAHA, NE - UNO PRSSA TO HOST ORGAN DONOR AWARENESS EVENT

Source: Maverick, University of Nebraska at Omaha

UNO PRSSA to Host Organ Donor Awareness Event

BY BEN MCCALL ⋅ APRIL 19, 2010 ⋅ POST A COMMENT

Of the 106,000 Americans waiting a lifesaving organ transplant; more than 500 of them are Nebraskans.

To help release more facts on organ donation among college students Maverick PR, UNO’s chapter of the Public Relations Student Society of America (PRSSA) has planned a series of events with the theme “Go Green-Donate Life” in partnership with UNO’s Environmental Club.

The event starts on April 20^th with a panel lead by the Nebraska Organ Recovery System (NORS) which will include a brunch.

“Students are one of the more open minded groups we target,” said Stephanie Lochmiller, the public relations coordinator of Nebraska organ recovery system.

The second part of the event will be one Thursday, April 22^nd outside on the UNO’s Central Plaza Teams for Teams from five different UNO student organizations will compete in a “Build a Life” contest from 11 to 11:30 a.m. The band, Skypiper, be play from noon to 1 p.m. as well.

During this time, PRSSA volunteers will distribute tote bags made of recycled materials full of swag, heart candy, Sun Chips, water and powdered drink packets to all students who sign up to become organ donors or who show their driver’s license as proof they are registered donors.

Along with PRSSA and Maverick PR, the event is also sponsored by NORS System and Chris Klug Foundation. According to their website, NORS is the federally designated organ procurement organization for Nebraska and Pottawattamie County in Iowa. Chris Klug Foundation is a national advocacy group that promotes organ donation on college campuses.

“Our research shows that college students are among the most receptive audiences to organ donation but their predisposition to organ donation does not translate into advocacy or action,” said Chris Klug.

This event is part of the chapter’s annual participation in the National Organ Donor Awareness Competition (NODAC). NODAC urges PRSSA chapters around the nation to hold informative events on their campuses to raise awareness about the importance of organ donation. The Rowan University chapter of PRSSA from Glassboro, New Jersey sponsors the competition.

Maverick PR, the University of Nebraska at Omaha chapter of the Public Relations Student Society of America (PRSSA) offers students a wide range of opportunities for professional development and community service. Founded in 1968, PRSSA is the largest, most respected and recognized organization for pre-professional students interested in public relations. Founded in 1968, PRSSA boasts more than 9,600 members with 284 chapters across the nation. In 2009, PRSSA awarded the UNO PRSSA chapter with its highest honor: the F.H. Teahan National Chapter Award for Outstanding Chapter.

For more information about this event, contact Ben McCall, media relations at (712) 309-2361 or bmcal6@gmail.com