MISSISSIPPI ORGAN RECOVERY AGENCY TO HOST 2ND ANNUAL SPERO AWARDS
Flowood, MS –The Mississippi Organ Recovery Agency (MORA) will host the 2nd annual Spero Awards presented by Donate Life Mississippi on Thursday, July 16th, 2015, at 11:30 a.m. at the Old Capitol Inn in downtown Jackson. The awards will recognize hospital partners, medical professionals, corporate partners and donor advocates that work tirelessly and in conjunction with MORA and the Mississippi Lions Eye Bank (MLEB) to promote organ, eye and tissue donation to ultimately save and improve lives.
The word Spero (Spā-rō) is Latin for “hope.” The title was chosen to reflect the hope that organ and tissue donation brings to those in need of a lifesaving organ or a life improving tissue transplant.
“Along with our donor families, our hospital partners, medical professionals, community supporters, and donation advocates are essential in our mission to save and improve lives through organ, eye and tissue donation,” said Kevin Stump, Chief Executive Officer of the Mississippi Organ Recovery Agency. “The Spero Awards give us the opportunity to celebrate the miracle of donation and the success stories with those that work so closely with us to save and improve lives in Mississippi and across the country.”
There are four new award categories added this year, bringing the total to 19 award categories recognized at the ceremony. Included in the new award categories is the “Gift of Sight Award” that will be presented by the Mississippi Lions Eye Bank. Eleven of the 19 awards are open for public nomination on MORA’s website www.msora.org/awards now through Friday, May 1, 2015.
At present, more than 1,400 Mississippians and 123,000+ Americans are in need of a lifesaving transplant. A new patient is added to the national transplant waiting list every 10 minutes and an average of 21 people die each day awaiting a lifesaving transplant that never comes. One organ donor can save eight lives and one tissue donor can save or improve the lives of 50 recipients or more. To register as an organ, eye and tissue donor go to www.donatelifems.org.
