Gov. Gregoire presents Washington Gift of Life Award

For Immediate Release: February 28, 2012

OLYMPIA � Gov. Chris Gregoire today presented the Washington Gift of Life Award to six families whose loved ones donated their organs, giving 22 Washingtonians a second chance at life.

�It is a privilege to recognize and honor people who gave the ultimate gift to others � the precious gift of life,� Gregoire said. �And I�m very proud of our state. Generous Washingtonians have made us one of the top states in the number of residents registered as organ donors.�

More than 110,000 Americans are on the national transplant waiting list. In Washington, nearly 1,600 people are at risk of dying if they do not receive an organ donation. Last year, 118 Washington residents became donors, saving the lives of 315 people with transplanted organs.

Families recognized today include relatives of:

� Christina Faulkner of Tacoma, who donated her kidneys and liver;
� Betty Moore of Seattle, who donated her lungs;
� Sylvia Reinstra of Bellingham, who donated her kidneys, pancreas, liver, heart and lungs;
� Alvino Sanchez of Sunnyside, who donated his kidneys, liver, heart and lungs;
� Olivia Chaffin of Deer Park, who donated her kidneys, liver, heart and lungs; and
� Henry �Blair� Graybill of Vancouver, who donated his kidneys and liver.

Families recognized were identified by LifeCenter Northwest and the Pacific Northwest Transplant Bank, who helped coordinate today�s ceremony.

The Washington Gift of Life Award was created by SB6667 in 1998, and directs the Governor�s Office to annually present the Washington Gift of Life Award to six families or individuals identified in coordination with an organ procurement to represent all those in the state who have donated organs.