Indiana State Fair Opens with Indiana Donor Network as Presenting Sponsor

(INDIANAPOLIS) – The gates to the 2019 Indiana State Fair have officially opened and fairgoers will be greeted with a lifesaving message. This year’s theme is “Heroes in the Heartland,” presented by Indiana Donor Network.

At the opening day ceremony, Indiana Donor Network president and chief executive officer Kellie Hanner stated: “We are so proud to partner with the Indiana State Fair, especially given this year’s theme: Heroes in the Heartland. This theme is close to our hearts because, at Indiana Donor Network, we are privileged to work with donor heroes every single day.”

Kellie Hanner

Hanner added, “It is up to all of us to make that donation decision. Those 1,300 Hoosiers and their families who are waiting for a lifesaving organ transplant are counting on all of us to be ‘heroes in the heartland.’”

Right now, 114,000 people are waiting for a lifesaving organ transplant nationwide and 1,300 of these patients are Hoosiers. The partnership between Indiana Donor Network and the Indiana State Fair aims to raise awareness around this important issue and encourage fairgoers to register their donation decisions.

It takes 30 seconds to register as an organ, tissue and eye donor at IndianaDonorNetwork.org. One donor can save eight lives through organ donation and heal up to 75 people through tissue and cornea donation.

Today is also Indiana Donor Network Day at the State Fair. Throughout the day and evening, Indiana Donor Network staff and advocates will be educating fairgoers about donation and transplantation and providing opportunities to register as donors.

Throughout the fair, Indiana Donor Network will be highlighting donor heroes, including race car driver Bryan Clauson, who is being honored during the fair. Additionally, we will be celebrating our clinical partners, taking a look back at the history of donation in Indiana and more. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram for these and more stories about Hoosiers saving and healing lives.