Truman the Tiger Joins Lineup of Green Ribbon Champions
Truman the Tiger, the University of Missouri mascot and Green Ribbon Champion
WESTWOOD, Kan. (April 2, 2019) – As the mascot for the University of Missouri and a big fan of registered organ donors, Truman the Tiger is showing a new kind of team spirit this month. Look to see him wearing the Green Ribbon pin at MU sporting events, civic and university functions, hospitals, schools, and many other appearances in Columbia and statewide.
The Green Ribbon symbolizes the selfless act of becoming a registered donor, as well as its life-giving impact on those who receive transplants. Right now, nearly 2,000 people in Missouri are on the waiting list for a lifesaving organ transplant, and around 78 percent of adults in Missouri are officially registered organ and tissue donors. While 78 percent is an impressive number that reflects the compassion and camaraderie of Show-Me State residents, Green Ribbon Champions like Truman are committed to raising it even further, as the need for organs continues to outpace the number of registered donors.
Truman is the fifth Green Ribbon Champion (and the first mascot) to join the lineup, with many more champions to come as the Green Ribbon Campaign by Midwest Transplant Network (MTN) continues into its second year. This fun-filled addition was a natural fit because MTN has a regional office in Columbia and a very successful partnership with MU Health Care, the University of Missouri’s academic health center. In fact, MU Health Care recently received MTN’s 2018 Donate Life Award from the Missouri Hospital Association to celebrate a record year with 36 organ donors at the University Hospital in Columbia, the most in the region.
Starting today, the public will begin seeing Truman wearing the green ribbon on billboards and other advertisements within the Columbia market. Anyone can give hope and share life by joining the donor registry, regardless of age or medical history. The process typically takes under a minute and can be completed online at ShareLifeMidwest.com, or in person at the DMV when obtaining or renewing a driver’s license or ID card. A single donor can save up to eight lives and improve as many as 75 more – so for many, saying yes to organ, eye and tissue donation is a simple way to make a powerful difference.
Media Contact:
Michala Stoker
913-261-7355
