A Record-Breaking Year for Organ Donation by CORE in 2024

Historic Achievements in Organ Donation

The Center for Organ Recovery & Education (CORE) has set a remarkable record in organ donation for the sixth year in a row. In 2024, CORE reported that 472 organ donors from its service area, which includes western Pennsylvania, West Virginia, and Chemung County in New York, contributed to the donation of 970 organs for life-saving transplants. This marks a significant 17% increase from the previous year, highlighting CORE's leadership among over 50 organ procurement organizations nationwide.

Among these inspiring stories is that of James Forish, a 65-year-old from Greensburg, Pennsylvania. After his passing in August 2024, his daughter, Cassidy Gamble, shared the profound impact of his decision to donate. As an organ procurement coordinator at CORE, Cassidy felt a sense of comfort knowing her father’s legacy of generosity would continue to help others. "My dad was incredibly giving, so there was no question that he'd want to be a donor. Knowing that his legacy continues has helped our family heal," she explained.

The President and CEO of CORE, Susan Stuart, expressed her heartfelt gratitude, stating, "Breaking records for six straight years is a testament to the generosity of our donors and their families, the commitment of our partner hospitals and transplant centers, and the passion of the CORE team. Together, we're giving second chances and changing lives."

One of the success stories resulting from these donations is that of 4-year-old Azaar Myers from Glenshaw, Pennsylvania, who received a life-saving liver transplant in April 2024 at UPMC Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh. Her mother, Tajah, credited CORE and the donor family for her daughter's chance at a promising future. "I'm overwhelmed thinking how many people are experiencing a second chance at life because of the donors in 2024. And I predict 2025 will be another record-breaking year!"

In total, CORE’s record-breaking efforts in 2024 resulted in:

- 462 donated kidneys
- 257 donated livers (+16%)
- 101 donated hearts (+16%)
- 87 donated lungs (+21%)
- 61 donated pancreata (including some for research) (+39%)
- 2 donated intestines

Despite these achievements, the need for organ donations remains critical, with more than 100,000 people waiting for transplants across the nation. Stuart urged everyone to consider becoming a donor, explaining how one donor can save up to eight lives and heal up to 75 others. She encouraged individuals to register at core.org/register to make a difference in someone’s life.

Cliff Sinopoli, a 65-year-old from Kennedy Township, Pennsylvania, is among those on the waiting list for a heart transplant. Having been listed for nearly three years at Allegheny General Hospital, he felt encouraged by the breaking records in organ donations. "Every year has got to be a record-breaking year, given how many people are in need,” he remarked. “I hope to one day thank my donor family for their generous gift that will allow me to have a positive impact on the world."

Additionally, CORE also reported record statistics for cornea and tissue donations in 2024, with 905 cornea donors representing an 8% increase over the previous year. Tissue donations also rose to 1,654, a 12% jump, helping restore sight to 884 individuals and providing healing through various tissue transplants—including bone repairs, skin grafts, and heart valve replacements—for nearly 125,000 others.

In western Pennsylvania, 345 organ donors after death contributed a total of 682 organs for transplant, while 1,106 tissue donors led to the healing of up to 75 individuals per donor. The cornea donations in this region restored sight for 703 people through successful transplants. Overall, 2,286 individuals in Pennsylvania received life-saving transplants in 2024, including 1,748 from deceased donors and 538 via living donors.

In West Virginia, 127 individuals became organ donors, resulting in the transplantation of 288 organs. Furthermore, 535 tissue donors provided healing to over 40,000 people, while 178 cornea donors gave the precious gift of sight to 169 individuals.

As Stuart concluded, "This sixth year of breaking records will further motivate and inspire us at CORE to continue striving for excellence. But we are driven not merely by a desire for record-breaking numbers; we are committed to our generous donors, their brave families, hopeful waiting list candidates, and grateful transplant recipients. This achievement belongs to them as much as it does to us."

About CORE
The Center for Organ Recovery & Education (CORE) is one of the more than 50 federally designated not-for-profit organ procurement organizations (OPOs) in the United States, dedicated to saving and healing lives through donation. For further information, please visit CORE's website or call 1-800-DONORS-7.