OCTOBER 14, 2005

Secretary of State Terri Lynn Land today honored Mount Morris resident Bill Schwerin with a Shining Star award for his outstanding work in educating children about the importance of organ and tissue donation through the use of "Stuffee," a 7-foot, blue-haired character that serves as a teaching aid.

Land created the Shining Star award to recognize those whose exceptional efforts encourage greater awareness about the critical need for organ and tissue donors. Land presented the Shining Star during a news conference at Hurley Medical Center in Flint.

The lovable character Stuffee is designed to showcase internal organs and their functions in a manner that is medically accurate and nonthreatening to small children. Schwerin can unzip the torso to reveal the major organs inside Stuffee's body cavity. Stuffee has allowed Schwerin to perfect an intriguing method for presenting information to young audiences that both captivates and educates.

"I congratulate Bill for tackling an extremely important subject and making it relevant to young children," Land said. "Organ and tissue donation is about giving life. Those who once faced uncertain futures and can now look forward to much healthier, happier lives thanks to transplants.

"Because of Bill's efforts, many children now have a better understanding of how the body works and the miracles that organ and tissue donation make possible."

Schwerin's dedication to promoting organ and tissue donation is all the more poignant because he is a lifelong diabetic and was received a kidney and pancreas transplant in January 1996.

Schwerin was nominated for the Shining Star by state Rep. John Gleason, D-Flushing.

"I have known Bill for a long time, and I am constantly amazed by his dedication to organ donation awareness," Gleason said. "After receiving a kidney from my sister, I have been working hard to promote organ donation so more people can experience the gift of life. Bill is an inspiration to me because of his unique and highly effective approach."

In February 2005, members of Priority Children nominated Schwerin for the Children's Champion Award. Priority Children is a Genesee County coalition dedicated to improving the quality of life for the area's youth.

Created by the Children's Museum of Pittsburgh, Stuffee is used at schools and museums as a teaching tool. Stuffee is made available to Schwerin through the Flint Children's Museum.

Also joining Land in honoring Schwerin were Patrick Wardell, Hurley Medical Center's chief executive officer, Dr. Elisea N. Singson, the Hurley Kidney Transplant Center medical director, and Tom Beyersdorf, Gift of Life Michigan's executive director.

The Shining Star award is the latest organ donor initiative undertaken by the Department of State. The department also has a primary role in collecting names for Michigan's organ, tissue and eye donor registry through its online enrollment program at www.Michigan.gov/sos. Donor cards are also available in branch offices and are mailed with driver's licenses and state identification cards.

Other organ donor programs supported by the department include Buddy Day, an event held each April in which Gift of Life Michigan and Michigan Eye-Bank volunteers meet with the public at Secretary of State branch offices to discuss organ and tissue donation. Land also encourages awareness through her Organ and Tissue Donor Advisory Committee and by fostering active partnerships with advocates statewide.

For more information about the Shining Star award and other Department of State organ donor programs, please visit www.Michigan.gov/sos.