Country Star Phil Vassar to Perform at Transplantation Fundraiser

Country Star Phil Vassar to Perform at Transplantation Fundraiser

American Society of Transplantation Joins James Redford on May 30th in Boston to Raise Transplant Awareness

BOSTON, April 14 /PRNewswire/ -- On May 30, 2009 the American Society of Transplantation (AST) will host Share the Beat, an inspirational evening of music and personal stories to benefit organ donation awareness and transplant research. Share the Beat premieres at Boston's Symphony Hall and will feature acclaimed singer/songwriter Phil Vassar and the Boston Pops, with John Williams conducting, and special guest appearance by liver recipient, James Redford, son of filmmaker Robert Redford.

Previous Share the Beat celebrations have been held in Atlanta, Omaha, Los Angeles and two in Utah -- Sundance and Provo. Phil Vassar has been a tireless supporter of the cause and is part of a core group of supporters who have donated their time to Share the Beat. Other friends and supporters include: Tim McGraw, Bo Bice, James Denton, Mariska Hargitay, Dana Delany, Katherine Heigl, and Jeffrey Dean Morgan.

"This is a wonderful opportunity for the community to enjoy the music of Phil Vassar and the Boston Pops and to be inspired by the personal stories of those whose lives were affected by transplantation," said Barbara Murphy, M.D., AST's President. "In fact, James Redford, who founded Share the Beat, received a liver transplant in 1993 after suffering complications from ulcerative colitis and the Redford family remains committed to increasing transplant awareness," added Murphy.

AST is dedicated to research, education and patient care in transplantation. Share the Beat celebrates the hope in transplantation through music, inspiration and awareness. About 18 people die each day awaiting an organ transplant, but by raising awareness, AST hopes to lower this number.

Reserve Tickets Now

Tickets for Share the Beat are available at www.sharethebeat.org. The event begins at 8:00 p.m. on May 30, 2009 at Symphony Hall, located at 301 Massachusetts Ave. in Boston. Proceeds will benefit the AST endowment, created to support in perpetuity the AST research grant portfolio, the training of transplant fellows and consensus conferences, and the Redford AnimAction Project, an educational outreach program for youth.

About AST

AST is an organization of transplant professionals dedicated to research, education, advocacy and patient care in transplantation science and medicine. The society comprises more than 2,800 transplant physicians, surgeons, scientists and allied health professionals. For more information visit www.a-s-t.org.

Contact: Beth Drost at 215.884.6499
beth@comsolutionsgroup.com

(EDITOR'S NOTE: TO INTERVIEW PHIL VASSAR ABOUT HIS WORK WITH THIS PROJECT, CONTACT BETH DROST AT 215.884.6499.)

Source: American Society of Transplantation

CONTACT: Beth Drost for American Society of Transplantation,
+1-215-884-6499, beth@comsolutionsgroup.com

Web Site: http://www.sharethebeat.org/

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