By Tyler Greer
UAB News
The African American Task Force, in conjunction with the Alabama Organ Center, will present the 2nd Annual Donate Life Gospel Celebration on Saturday, Aug. 12. The event will take place from 4-6:30 p.m. at Bethel Baptist Church in the Pratt City community, located at 1708 Spencer Ave., Birmingham, Alabama. Doors open at 3 p.m.
Choirs and performers participating in the free event include New Hope Baptist Church Spirit of Levi, Brother Jessie Champion Omega Choral, Bethel Baptist Church, Marvin Pullom and FWD, Trinesha and S.O.T.L., Angenetta Smith, the Male Chorus of 6th Avenue, and the Birmingham Chapter GMWA. Other event highlights will include heartwarming testimonies by transplant recipients and donor families.
Donate Life Gospel Celebration is an event created to recognize National Minority Donor Awareness Week, a nationwide observance to educate minorities of the desperate need of organ donation and transplantation within the multicultural community.
“We are excited to include several talented local gospel choirs in the program, and are expecting an evening of great music and communion as we celebrate the life-giving miracle of organ and tissue donation,” said LaToya Bishop, multicultural education coordinator at the Alabama Organ Center.
Bishop says the Donate Life Gospel Celebration will combine the element of uplifting spiritual song and heartwarming testimonies by transplant recipients and donor families that will inspire our community to take action and raise awareness of the importance of organ, eye and tissue donation.
“It is our hope,” Bishop said, “that hosting a community event of this nature will help us to build a lasting partnership with our faith-based communities and bridge the gap between the people who desperately need lifesaving and life-enhancing transplants and those who are able to give the gift of life.”
For more information on the event, contact 205-731-9200 or visit www.AlabamaOrganCenter.org.
Currently, 54 percent of the U.S. adult population are registered organ, eye and tissue donors; 34 percent are registered in Alabama. The number of people in need of transplants continues to outpace the number of organs donated. More than 116,000 people are waiting for a transplant and a second chance at life. Currently, 58 percent of patients waiting are from multicultural communities. On average, 22 people die each day because the organ they need is not donated in time.
Visit www.alabamaorgancenter.org today to register your decision to make life possible and be an organ, eye and tissue donor.
