Center for Organ Recovery & Education

01/12/2026

Every donor leaves behind a story of hope, generosity, and healing. In the CORE Gallery of Heroes, families share heartfelt tributes to those who have given the ultimate gift. Today, we honor William Yeager — a true hero.

His family shares, “William or Willie as we all called him was always the life of a party. Always there for everyone and so giving and caring.”

Read his full tribute here: https://coreheroes.org/tribute/william-yeager/

01/09/2026

Myth vs. Fact Friday

Myth: If you’re rich, famous, or well connected, you’ll get an organ transplant faster.

Fact: Organs are matched based on medical urgency, blood type, body size, and other clinical factors — not wealth, status, or who you know. Strict national policies ensure the transplant waiting list is managed fairly and ethically for everyone.

Organ donation is about saving and healing lives, guided by medical need and equity.

Learn more: https://core.org/about-us/newsroom/fast-facts/

01/08/2026

🎬 Season two of The Pitt starts tonight, and we’re excited to watch!

As a show rooted in Pittsburgh, it meant a lot to see donation thoughtfully represented last season. Thank you to the team behind The Pitt for highlighting the compassion and generosity that takes place in hospitals every day. Who’s tuning in tonight?

Read more: https://www.post-gazette.com/ae/tv-radio/2025/02/20/the-pitt-hbo-max-emergency-room-medical-drama/stories/202502030076

01/07/2026

Start 2026 off with purpose—join the team at CORE and make a difference every day! Whether you're a healthcare professional or bring expertise from a non-clinical background, there's a place for you here.

We’re hiring for both clinical and non-clinical roles to help save and heal lives through organ, tissue, and cornea donation. Explore our open positions and find the role that's right for you: https://core.org/about-us/careers/

Let’s make this year extraordinary together. Apply today!

01/06/2026

"When I was about a year and a half old, I fell into my family's Christmas tree and one of the needles punctured my right eye, leaving a fragment. I had the needle surgically removed a few days later, but my eye did not heal the way they anticipated. My eye was inflamed and constantly infected, which majorly affected my vision — this lasted four years, and no one could seem to find a lasting treatment or solution for these chronic problems. My family and I travelled all over Minnesota seeking answers for my very unhealthy right eye that caused me so much pain in my early years of life. Finally, Dr. Elizabeth Davis at Minnesota Eye Consultants made the decision to place me on the corneal transplant list in July of 2007. On October 23rd, 2007, at the age of six, I underwent a corneal transplant. My life has been changed forever since my transplant. Not only was my sight restored and I was able to enjoy a now pain-free childhood, but my transplant provided me with a lifelong dream and mission of becoming an eye doctor as an attempt to give back the greatest gift that was given to me. Now, 18 years post-transplant, I am in my first year of optometry school, living out my dream – a dream that would never have been possible without my donor's generous gift of sight. I am grateful each and every day for my donor and the beauty of organ donation!" 💙💚 Thank you, Kailee and Donate Life America, for sharing this story with us!

01/05/2026

On January 12th, CORE will be at the Carnegie Library of Homestead for a meaningful and creative workshop focused on health, hope, and legacy.

Participants will create a personal vision board while learning about the importance of wellness, prevention, and organ donation, and how one informed decision can help save lives in your community.

This workshop is open to all, so register today!

Looking to set some intentions for the New Year? Join us on January 12th for a vision board workshop with Center for Organ Recovery & Education! We'll provide all of the materials- for more information and registration, please visit: https://live-homestead.pantheonsite.io/event/health-and-hope-vision-board-workshop-3293

01/02/2026

We had a fantastic time this week with the lively members of the PrimeTime Senior Center! CORE had a great time hosting a health and wellness–themed educational bingo, turning learning into a fun and engaging experience. By the end of the morning, participants walked away with new knowledge about the lifesaving impact of organ, tissue, and cornea donation.

Interested in bringing CORE’s educational bingo to your community center in 2026?
Email CORE's Multicultural Outreach Coordinator Marilyn Michelle Reynolds at communityoutreach@core.org.

01/01/2026

Wishing you all a happy and healthy New Year! 💙💚🎉

12/31/2025

New year, new goals! Why not make a life-saving resolution?

By signing up to be an organ, tissue, and cornea donor, you can help give hope to those waiting for a second chance. It's a simple act with a profound impact. Start off 2026 by making your and be someone's hero!

Learn more and sign up here: core.org/register

12/30/2025

As 2025 comes to a close, we’re celebrating a year of impact, compassion, and connection at CORE.

💙 Lives were saved and healed because of the generosity of organ, tissue, and cornea donors and their families.
🌟 Communities across our region came together through education and outreach to support donation.
👏 Volunteers, advocates, and partners showed incredible dedication in advancing our mission.

As we head into 2026, our commitment remains the same: to honor donors, support families, and save and heal lives through donation.

Thank you for being part of this lifesaving work!

12/29/2025

"Around 16 years ago, my wife, April, was diagnosed with kidney disease. Knowing we had the same blood type, I told her from the start that, without hesitation, I would give her a kidney if we were compatible.

Fast forward to about a year ago. Her health started declining, and she started seeing her nephrologist more often. We definitely wanted to do all we could to keep her from starting dialysis. She was eventually referred to The Ohio State University Werner Medical Center. After all the testing and appointments, I was approved as her living donor. Three weeks later, on October 10, 2025, she received one of my kidneys. The morning after surgery, I was up walking, and her labs were already better than they had been in well over 10 years. I spent two nights in the hospital, and she was discharged after four nights. We have now been home for just over two weeks, and today we are celebrating our 23rd wedding anniversary with many, many more to celebrate in the future. Recovery hasn’t been without its hurdles, but with all the support we’ve received from our family and friends, it has been easier.

Needless to say, this has greatly improved my wife’s and our family’s overall quality of life. I also can’t describe what this act has done for my own self-confidence and feeling of self-worth. Having been registered organ donors for many years, donation now has renewed importance and a special place in our lives." –Michael. Donate Life America

12/26/2025

Each day of Kwanzaa celebrates a principle, starting with Unity and ending in Faith. To all celebrating this week, may peace, love, and unity bring you a ! 💙💚