Valentine's Day is a day traditionally set aside for love, gifts of flowers and chocolates. This Valentine's Day, the National Marrow Donor Program (NMDP) and its partner, The Marrow Foundation^®, along with Saturn, its United Auto Worker (UAW) partners, and many of America's leading nonprofit health organizations are seeking everyday heroes to help patients in need during the seventh annual National Donor Day -- America's largest one-day donation event. The theme for the event is "Heroes Wanted."

Held at more than 450 Saturn dealerships on Saturday, February 14, National Donor Day provides the opportunity for people to learn about blood, marrow, and organ and tissue donation. The need for donation is significant:

• Approximately 30,000 patients each year are diagnosed with leukemia or other blood diseases that are potentially treatable with marrow or blood stem cell transplants - but only 30% of patients will find a donor match within their family.
• More than 80,000 people in the United States are waiting for a life-saving organ transplant. On average, 18 people die each day because necessary organs were not available.
• Blood transfusions save approximately 10,000 people every day in the United States, but blood typically is in short supply during February - with this February's shortage expected to be especially acute.
• Up to 60% of Americans are eligible to give blood, but only 5% donate.

3 Ways to Participate

1. Become a potential marrow or blood stem cell donor by joining the National Marrow Donor Program Registry of volunteers at participating Saturn dealerships. Potential donors must be between the ages of 18 and 60 and in good general health. Joining the Registry is easy; all it takes is a commitment to save someone's life and a simple blood test. While the NMDP welcomes everyone who is medically eligible and willing to volunteer, there is a critical need for more donors from the Black, African American, Hispanic, Asian, Native Hawaiian, Pacific Islander, American Indian and Alaska Native communities.
2. Organ and tissue donation pledge cards will be available at all Saturn retail facilities.
3. Blood drives will be held at many Saturn locations. See listing (PDF) for events by state.

"Lives are saved every day by blood, tissue and organ donations, and we are actively working to save many more," said Jill Lajdziak, Saturn vice president of sales, service and marketing." I applaud our Saturn retailers for taking the initiative to make this program a success each year. The opportunity to give another person - perhaps a child - a new chance at life is a remarkable act of selflessness."

Saturn National Donor Day accomplishments to date:

• Approximately 48,000 units of blood have been collected
• More than 8,000 potential marrow or blood stem cell donors have committed to the NMDP Registry
• 10 potentially life-saving marrow or blood stem cell matches have occurred from among the 8,000 Donor Day registrants.

More Information

• About the National Marrow Donor Program
• About The Marrow Foundation
• National Donor Day Sponsors (PDF)
• www.saturnuaw.com