Mama's Boyz News Release

For Immediate Release Contact: Gina Screen July 1, 2005 703-683-7742

Nationally- Syndicated Cartoonist Champions Organ and Tissue Donation

Critical Need for African American Donors Continues Washington, D.C. - The Coalition on Donation and award-winning cartoonist of Mama's Boyz, Jerry Craft, have teamed up to illustrate the critical need for African American organ and tissue donors. Over the past decade, there has been a 166 percent increase in the number of African Americans waiting for organ transplants, with African Americans comprising an alarming 35 percent of all patients awaiting kidneys. This increase may be attributed, in part, to the escalating number of African Americans with conditions that can lead to the need for transplants, such as diabetes, high blood pressure and heart disease.

Mama's Boyz follows an African-American family led by Pauline Porter, a widow who lost her husband several years ago to diabetes. When she's not running the family bookstore, she's keeping an eye on her two teenage sons, Tyrell and Yusuf. Over the years, the strip has addressed other social and health issues such as teen pregnancy and diabetes, making it a perfect fit for the Coalition's message.

"We feel that putting this information in a comic strip will help reach new audiences in a non-threatening manner," said Tina Evans Caines, Chair of the Coalition's National African American Campaign. "Recent research shows that only 39 percent of African Americans who support organ and tissue donation actually become donors. This is compared to 49 percent of the general population. To meet our community's growing need we must find creative ways to bridge this gap."

Mama's Boyz is currently a part of the King Features Weekly Service - a collection of comics and columns distributed to more than 1,500 newspapers around the world - making Jerry Craft one of only six African-American cartoonists to have a strip distributed by a major syndicate.

"Before getting involved with the Coalition, I wasn't aware that so many African Americans are waiting for transplants," said Craft, "and I'm sure they're many others in the same boat. But, once I found out, I knew I had to get involved. It's real simple.organ donors can help save the lives of others."

The Coalition's outreach to the Black community has been supported by some of the nation's leading African American organizations, specifically the National Medical Association, National Urban League, NAACP, National Newspaper Publishers Association and the Congressional Black Caucus Healthcare Braintrust. The comic strip series is part of a continuing effort to increase the number of African American donors.

Founded in 1992, the Coalition on Donation is a not-for-profit alliance of national organizations and local coalitions across the United States, dedicated to inspiring all people to donate life through organ, eye and tissue donation.

To learn more about how to Donate Life or request a free copy of the brochure You Have the Power to Donate Life, visit www.donatelife.net or call 1-866-LETS-GIVE (1-866-538-7448).