The Yankees will team up with the New York Organ Donor Network to raise awareness of the importance of organ donation during the Yankees-Red Sox game Saturday at Yankee Stadium.
Colby Salerno, a heart transplant recipient, will be honored in a pre-game ceremony.

“Colby is an inspiration to all of us,” Yankees senior vice president for marketing Debbie Tymon said. “He is a reminder that everyone has the opportunity to make a difference.”

Salerno received his heart transplant May 29 at Hartford Hospital. During his 168-day wait at the Connecticut hospital, Salerno, who was diagnosed with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy at the age of 12, blogged from the hospital’s 10th-floor intensive care unit about his experience waiting for an organ transplant. Now that he is healthy, Salerno is working to encourage others to enroll on their state registry, including his fellow Yankees fans.

“I am excited to share my story with all of Yankees Universe in hope that more people will be inspired to take steps to enroll to be a donor,” Salerno said. “I want to let all fans know how enrolling to be an organ door can truly make a difference in the lives of others.”

The Yankees will also provide organ donor enrollment information to fans as they enter the Stadium and will run a public-service announcement encouraging enrollment during the game. Complementing their in-stadium efforts, the Yankees will spread the word about organ donation via Twitter as well as the radio and television broadcasts of Saturday game with a 4:05 p.m. start.

The need for more organ donors in the tri-state area is urgent. Every person who enrolls to be an organ donor has the opportunity to save the lives of eight people. In New York State alone, some 10,000 patients are awaiting a life-saving organ transplant. However, only 19 percent of the New York population is enrolled to be an organ donor, as opposed to the national average of 43 percent. As a result, every 15 hours another New Yorker dies waiting for an organ.

Said Helen Irving, president and chief executive officer of the New York Organ Donor Network, said, “Having our hometown heroes, the New York Yankees, support organ donation is a real home run for this important cause and for the thousands of New Yorkers who are waiting for a transplant across the state.”

To enroll to become an organ donor in New York, visit SaveLivesNY.org. Non-New Yorkers should visit DonateLifeAmerica.net.