Erie County Clerk
Press Releases

09/03/07

Amherst Councilmembers Team Up with County Clerk to Promote Organ Donation

Erie County Clerk Kathy Hochul, and Amherst Town Councilmembers Debbie Bucki and Dan Ward teamed up Thursday to promote organ and tissue donation at the County Clerk's Amherst suburban auto bureau at the Erie Community College (ECC) – North Campus.

County Clerk Hochul applauded the efforts of Debbie Bucki and Dan Ward to keep organ and tissue donation in the public's eye by ensuring that Amherst customers at the ECC North Auto Bureau have literature available to them. Hochul also said she is pleased that the Auto Bureau plays such an important role in the gift of life when drivers indicate on their licenses that they choose to be donors in the event of an accident.

Amherst Councilmember Bucki promoted the effort as one who has had a career of caring for others and nursing concerns. "As a nurse, I know how important literally the gift of life can be to someone who might not otherwise make it. Truly the gift of vital organs such as heart, liver, kidneys and lungs can make the difference between life or death to a recipient. Mrs. Bucki, who holds a Ph.D. in Nursing from the University at Buffalo, has been a strong supporter of this program.

Amherst Councilman Dan Ward agreed. "I have been a participant myself in this program for a long time. Even the-less-than vital organs and bodily tissues are important. You can leave a real living legacy of yourself to others who might be better able to see, hear, or otherwise genuinely enhance their quality of life. I am pleased to join Kathy and Debbie in increasing awareness of, and promoting the NYS organ and tissue donation program," said Ward.

"I can't thank of a more vital gift of life for a person to give to another who might be desperately seeking a vital organ, or bodily tissues to sustain or improve their quality of life," said Hochul. Since taking office as County Clerk it has been one of her service priorities to have the advertising literature available and promote this program with the citizens. "All New York State motor vehicle operators have the opportunity to join this effort by simply checking off the option to do so on their operator's license," said Hochul, showing how easy it is to do so.

For more information on the NYS Organ and Tissue Donation Program contact County Clerk Hochul, or Councilmembers Bucki and Ward.