Ruth Institute Blog

Charlie Butts – OneNewsNow

The National Embryo Donation Center has received federal grants to educate the public.

Much of the public is unaware that stored embryos can be adopted. Center spokesman Dr. Jeffrey Keenan tells OneNewsNow the first grant will be used to remedy that problem.
 
“[We will] harness the power of new media in order to expand awareness of embryo donation and adoption,” he shares. “We’ll be using media such as Facebook, YouTube, MySpace, Constant Contact, mass e-mails, Twitter, podcasts, webinars, and other web-based media.”
 
While the outreach of the Knoxville, Tennessee-based center will primarily target those who are infertile, Keenan shares that it will also spread information among the general population.
 
“There are about a half-million frozen embryos in frozen storage in the United States. About 15 percent of the reproductive-age population in the United States is infertile, and embryo donation or embryo adoption is a wonderful option for infertile couples to build their family,” Keenan adds.
 
The Center’s medical director also notes those who have completed their family can donate remaining eggs for others. A second grant from the Department of Health and Human Services, Keenan says, will allow the organization to target professionals, such as doctors, with an awareness campaign.