Give the Gift of Life at Saturn's National Donor Day Feb. 14

FOR RELEASE: February 11, 2003

Give the Gift of Life at Saturn's National Donor Day Feb. 14

Detroit, Mich. - Make this Valentine's Day truly meaningful by giving the gift of life.

On Feb. 14, 2003, participating Saturn retailers will host the sixth annual National Donor Day, a one-day event aimed at raising awareness and encouraging blood, marrow and blood stem cell, organ and tissue donations. Saturn Corporation, its United Auto Workers (UAW) partners and many of America's leading non-profit health organizations will join together in this nationwide effort to save lives.

Saturn is encouraging people to incorporate donation into their Valentine's Day celebration. At participating retailers on Feb. 14, consumers can donate blood or pledge to donate blood, be added to the National Marrow Donor Program Registry, and/or complete an organ and tissue donation pledge card.

"We believe National Donor Day is the largest annual one-day blood, marrow, organ and tissue drive in America," said Jill Lajdziak, Saturn vice president of sales, service and marketing. "Thanks to the success of the past five years, Saturn has collected approximately 37,000 units of blood, added more than 7,000 potential marrow donors to the National Marrow Donor Program Registry, and informed hundreds of thousands of Americans of the urgent need for organ and tissue donors."

But clearly, much help is still needed.

Over 80,000 patients currently await a life-saving organ transplant. An average of 16 people die every day because not enough organs are available to meet the need. Organ and tissue donation cards will be available at all Saturn retail facilities on National Donor Day. Pledge cards can also be obtained by calling 800-553-6670. In addition to committing to donation, Americans are encouraged to tell their families of their decision.

Each year, approximately 30,000 patients in the U.S. will be diagnosed with life-threatening diseases, like leukemia, which are potentially treatable by marrow or blood stem cell transplant. Just one in three will find a donor match within their family. Many Saturn retailers will offer the opportunity to join the National Marrow Donor Program Registry - all it takes is a simple blood test. Anyone between the ages of 18-60 and in good general health can join the Registry.

Blood transfusions save approximately 10,000 Americans every day. The nation's blood supply is often critically short during the winter when Saturn National Donor Day is held. Although 60 percent of Americans are eligible to give blood, only 5 percent donate. Blood drives will be available at many Saturn locations and where not available, blood donation may be pledged for a later date at a different location.

To raise awareness of the need for donation, Saturn is getting support from two prominent athletes whose families have been directly impacted by life-saving donation - Olympic bronze medalist snowboarder Chris Klug and Oakland A's pitcher and American League Cy Young Award winner Barry Zito.

In failing health in July 2000, Chris Klug received a liver transplant. Last February, he became the first organ transplant recipient ever to compete in the Olympics where he won the bronze medal in alpine snowboarding. "My goal in being involved in Saturn National Donor Day is to inspire patients currently on the transplant waiting list. From my own experience I know it is easy to lose hope. I urge them and their families to hang in there...people all across America are working to encourage donation," said Klug.

For the Zito family, Roberta - Barry's mother - is alive today thanks to organ donation. "Life-saving donation helped my family overcome the greatest challenge we've ever faced," said Zito, whose mother received a liver transplant in 1999. "It is hard to imagine a greater generosity than giving life itself. We are eternally grateful and we encourage every American family to commit to donation."

For more information on Saturn National Donor Day and events taking place at a participating retailer, please call 800-553-6670, or visit www.saturnuaw.com.

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