Head Women's Basketball Coach Stephanie Del Preore To Receive Donate Life Champion Award

Bridgeport, Conn.-University of Bridgeport head women's basketball coach Stephanie Del Preore has been selected to receive a Donate Life Champion Award by Donate Life America and Donate Life Connecticut for her outstanding support for organ, eye and tissue donation in organizing UB's annual "Donate Life" games to honor her late father who passed away in 2002 after a courageous battle with liver and kidney disease.  Del Preore, who is one of approximately 60 people from all over the country to be selected as Donate Life Champions, will receive her award on Sunday, November 11, 2012 following her team's game versus St. Michael's (Vt.) College that begins at 4:00 p.m. and prior to the tip-off of the Bridgeport men's basketball game versus Southern Connecticut State University that is slated for a 6:00 p.m. start.

In a letter to Coach Del Preore informing her of this award, Donate Life Connecticut Director Kari Mull said, "You have been selected to receive this award because of your desire to honor your father's memory and the donor who extended his life through organ donation.  Donate Life Connecticut has felt thankful for our partnership in presenting a Donate Life Day at University of Bridgeport for the past two seasons.  We are especially grateful to you and your leadership, inspiring your team members and colleagues to extend donation awareness to more and more people every year."

Stated coach Del Preore. "I'm so honored to receive this award, but it's not just about me, it's about the entire University of Bridgeport community that has been so supportive of our "Donate Life" games.  I really share this award with the many people on campus that have helped out.  I always said that when I became a head coach I was going to do something to honor my father, my hero and my inspiration and with a lot of help from many people that dream of mine became a reality."

More than 115,000 American are currently waiting for a life-saving organ transplant, including more than 1,280 in the state of Connecticut.  For more information on the Donate Life program and how to register to be an organ and tissue donor, please visit the Donate Life Connecticut website at www.ctorganandtissuedonation.org.