The testimonials of these dignitaries and other men, women and children will be prominently featured in a mix of television and radio public service announcements that highlight the campaign's icon, the Green Chair. When empty, the DLO Green Chair can represent the loss of someone who never found a matching donor. Likewise, someone sitting in the chair can represent the new hope of a donor whose gift of life will be the second chance for someone in need. From personal accounts of donor families and recipients to the advocacy of those who've joined the donor registry, the Green Chair provides a platform for Ohioans to save lives.

"The Green Chair is a unifying signature element that represents the opportunity to share personal stories about loss, hope and belief in organ and tissue donation," said Amy Moeder, chair of the Second Chance Trust Fund. "We want people to understand that it only takes a few moments to join the registry, yet it can make the difference of a lifetime to a fellow Ohioan."

Throughout 2010, the Green Chair will travel to popular venues across the state to offer Ohioans the opportunity to share thoughts and stories about organ, eye and tissue donation, as well as give others the chance to join the registry. In the meantime, DLO is asking Ohioans to become registered donors and start discussing the importance of organ, eye and tissue donation with friends, family and co-workers.

"The more people we encourage to take a seat, the more stories we will have to share," said Moeder. "The more stories we share, the greater our opportunity for growing the registry and ultimately saving and enhancing lives. We need to do it now."

The critical goal of the 2010 Green Chair campaign, funded by the Second Chance Trust Fund, is to add 240,000 new donor registrations in Ohio by Wednesday, June 30. The challenge is directed from Donate Life America and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and one that has been successfully met in years past.

To join the discussion, share your story or to find where the Green Chair will be near you, visit www.facebook.com/DonateLifeOhio. Or follow the Green Chair via Twitter at DonateLifeOH.

Register now to be an organ, eye and tissue donor at www.DonateLifeOhio.org or say "yes" to donation when visiting a local bureau of motor vehicles (BMV).

About Donate Life Ohio

Donate Life Ohio is a coalition of the state's organ, eye and tissue recovery agencies dedicated to educating Ohioans about the need for organ and tissue donation. In this effort to increase donor registrations, they are joined by the Ohio Department of Health, the Ohio Department of Public Safety and the Minority Organ and Tissue Transplant Education Program. For more information, please visit www.DonateLifeOhio.org.

About Second Chance Trust Fund

Through contributions made by individuals at Ohio's BMVs while receiving or renewing their Ohio driver's licenses or state identification card, the Second Chance Trust Fund finances educational and action-oriented campaigns like the Do It Now! program. A $1 contribution supports donation education in Ohio and gives hope to thousands of Ohioans waiting for a second chance through organ, eye and tissue donation.

Organ Procurement

Organizations

* LifeCenter Organ Donor Network, Cincinnati -- Andi Johnson, public affairs manager, 513-558-5555 office / 513-315-1785 cell

* LifeBanc, Cleveland, Akron, Canton, Youngstown -- Chuck Heald, director of media and community affairs, 216-283-7057 office / 216-956-1478 cell

* Lifeline of Ohio, Columbus -- Marilyn Pongonis, director of communications, 614-384-7330 office / 614-580-0393 cell

* Life Connection of Ohio, Dayton -- Cathi Arends, director of community relations, 937-223-8223 office / 937-657-5596 cell

* Life Connection of Ohio, Toledo -- Kara Steele, community relations representative, 419-893-1618 office

Why a chair? Because of the universal way it communicates family, personality, conversation and life.

Most people can vividly picture mom or dad's chair from childhood. Often we had to ask permission just to sit in one of them. And if someone in the family passed away, the loneliness of that empty chair could be overwhelming.

At the Smithsonian's National Museum of American History, Archie and Edith Bunker's chairs from the classic TV show "All in the Family" are enshrined in a glass display. Seeing the chairs immediately recalls the characters and their personalities, just as it does in real life.

In essence, a favorite chair represents the comforts of home. Where we go to relax and unwind. To live. It is a fitting symbol of the purpose of Donate Life Ohio -- to transform loss into new life; to bring hope and comfort to those in desperate need; and to stimulate conversation about organ, eye and tissue donation.

As part of the 2010 Donate Life Ohio campaign, a mix of television and radio public service announcements were developed to educate Ohioans about organ, eye and tissue donation and to drive registrations. These spots will be running throughout the state on local TV and radio stations. (Note: The spots are not broadcast quality).

The spots leverage the emotional, compelling stories captured through conversations in the Donate Life Ohio Green Chair and feature prominent Ohioans and people from around the state. Below is a complete list of those featured:

Statewide Celebrities:

* Carson Palmer, Cincinnati Bengals quarterback, tissue recipient

* Governor Ted Strickland, donor advocate

* Jim Tressel, The Ohio State University football coach, friend of kidney recipient

Central and Southern area:

* Suzy Crossin, liver recipient and wife of donor

* Debby Rice, father died waiting for transplant

* Harold and Ian Sanchez, father and heart recipient son

* Mike Vyrostek, tissue recipient

Cincinnati area:

* Miasha Gray-Diggs, double cornea recipient

* Vickie Jackson, donor son

* Dana Siegel, lung recipient

Northeast Ohio area:

* Jodi and Chase DelFerraro, mother and liver recipient son

* Stephanie Drake, BMV deputy registrar; cousin of transplant recipient

* Mervyn Jones, mother was donor (Congresswoman Stephanie Tubbs Jones)

* Candice and Patrice Monroe, sisters, heart recipients

Dayton area:

* Kara and Pierce Blalock, mother and heart recipient son

* Earl Dawson, waiting for a kidney

* Hank Dodson, heart recipient

* The Rev. Daryl Ward, donor advocate

Toledo area:

* Natalie Cummerow, heart recipient

* Jenny and Allison Herr, mother and liver recipient daughter

* Bruce Joseph, tissue recipient

* Harvey J. Steele, liver recipient

THE FACTS ABOUT

ORGAN AND TISSUE DONATION

What Is Do It Now?

Do It Now! is a statewide campaign to create excitement, build awareness and ultimately encourage Ohioans to join the Ohio Donor Registry as a new organ, eye and tissue donor. The theme Do It Now! was chosen to place emphasis on the urgency for individuals to register.

The goal for the 2010 campaign is to add 240,000 new donors to the Ohio Donor Registry. Meeting this goal could potentially give life to nearly two million individuals.

Who Is Donate Life Ohio?

Donate Life Ohio is a coalition of the state's organ, eye and tissue recovery agencies dedicated to educating Ohioans about the need for organ and tissue donation. In this effort to increase donor registrations, they are joined by the Ohio Department of Health, the Ohio Department of Public Safety and the Minority Organ and Tissue Transplant Education Program. For more information, please visit www.DonateLifeOhio.org.

Who Is The Second Chance Trust Fund?

Through contributions made by individuals at Ohio's BMVs while receiving or renewing their Ohio driver's licenses or state identification card, the Second Chance Trust Fund finances educational and action-oriented campaigns like the Do It Now! program. A $1 contribution supports donation education in Ohio and gives hope to thousands of Ohioans waiting for a second chance through organ, eye and tissue donation.

OHIO STATISTICS

* More than 3,000 Ohioans are waiting for a life-saving transplant at any given time, with 78 percent waiting for a kidney transplant due to end-stage kidney disease.

* One Ohioan dies every other day waiting for a life-saving transplant.

* Hundreds of additional Ohioans are in need of cornea and tissue transplants.

* Each year, more than 1,600 Ohioans could have their sight restored through cornea transplants and thousands more could benefit from tissue transplants, heart valves, bones, tendons, ligaments, veins, fascia, skin and nerves.

* More than half of Ohio's licensed drivers and state identification holders have registered to become organ and tissue donors.

GENERAL FACTS

* A single donor can save up to eight lives through organ donation and improve the lives of up to 50 people through tissue and eye donation.

* Organs and tissue can be donated, including the heart, liver, kidneys, lungs, pancreas, intestine, heart valves, bones, tendons, ligaments, veins, fascia, skin and nerves.

* Nationally, African-Americans and other minorities make up about 20 percent of the population, but slightly more than 50 percent of the waiting list for organ transplants is composed of minorities.

* The matching of organs to recipients is coordinated through the United Network for Organ Sharing and is based strictly on medical criteria to ensure the organ goes to the person who needs it most.

* The need for donors is so great because of all total hospital deaths, less than one percent are eligible for organ donation, usually the result of brain death from a traumatic head injury.

TRUTHS ABOUT ORGAN,

EYE AND TISSUE

DONATION

* Becoming a donor does not affect the level of medical care a person will receive in the case of a medical emergency. Furthermore, doctors working to save a person's life are separate from the medical team involved in the transplant process.

* Costs related to donation are not paid for by the donor's family. The organ/tissue recovery agencies or the transplant center pay all costs related to the donation.

* All major religions support organ and tissue donation as the ultimate act of charity.

* People of all ages and medical histories should consider themselves as potential donors. Medical condition at the time of death will determine what organs and tissue can be donated.

* A donor can have an open-casket funeral. Great care is taken to preserve the natural appearance of the donor following the recovery of organs, eyes or tissue.