BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - The Alabama Organ Center is hosting its first "Gospel Fest: Celebrating the Gift of Life" event on Saturday, Oct. 3 to educate minorities about the desperate need for donation and transplantation within the multicultural community and how to designate their decision to give life.

The event will be held from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Western Hills Mall, 7201 Aaron Aronov Drive, Fairfield, and will include presentations by transplant recipients and donor families. Local churches scheduled to attend include South Park Baptist Church, Guiding Light Church, New Hope Baptist Church and Cedar Grove Baptist Church.

Approximately 54 percent of the more than 103,000 people on the national waiting list are minorities. In 2008, 10,936 minority individuals on the national waiting list received an organ transplant. More than 3,300 people are waiting in Alabama for an organ transplant today. Nearly 66 percent of those waiting for a kidney in Alabama are African-American.

About the Alabama Organ Center

The Alabama Organ Center provides families an opportunity to donate organs and tissues and supports these families regardless of their decision, and it promotes equitable use of these gifts. The Alabama Organ Center's goal is to facilitate the donor process, coordinate the recovery of organs and tissues for transplant and research and promote interest in the organ- and tissue-donor program. The center is committed to increasing knowledge about organ and tissue donation and transplantation and eliminating common misconceptions through public and professional education programs.