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National Donor Day is February 14th!

The Need is Real!
http://organdonorgov.us/waitlist_data.php  
112,738 people are waiting for an organ
18 people will die each day waiting for an organ
1 organ donor can save up to 8 lives
 
While you have been reading this, someone may have been added to the waiting list. It happens every 11 minutes.
Each day, an average of 75 people receive organ transplants. However, an average of 20 people die each day waiting for transplants that can't take place because of the shortage of donated organs.

Organ transplantation has become an accepted medical treatment for end-stage organ failure. The facts prove it. But only you can help make it happen.

Statistics can sometimes be overwhelming and difficult to understand. One thing to remember is that every number in the statistic you view is a person, a person who either needs your help and is waiting for a lifesaving transplant or a person who has left a lasting legacy through organ and tissue donation. Either way each number represents a life, a mom, a dad, a brother, a sister or a child, someone who is important to someone else, maybe even you.

Statistics change. Some change day to day and some can even change minute to minute. So you may see different numbers each time you return to organdonor.gov or some of the other sites linked from here. You may ask why this happens. There are several reasons.

One of the most confusing statistics is the number of persons waiting for a transplant. Patients are allowed to register at multiple transplant centers so you may see a higher number if you count "registrations" rather than "candidates."
Additionally, one of the great things that may happen is that donations and transplantations may be taking place at any time, so while the waiting list might continue to grow the number of donors may also rise. The reality is that the number of candidates waiting continues to dwarf the number of donor organs available, and only you can change this.

Here are some interesting facts:

• As of May 4, 2009, the percentage of recipients who were still living 5-years after their transplant is noted below for kidney, heart, liver, and lung.
• Kidney: 69.3%
• Heart: 74.9%
• Liver: 73.8%
• Lung: 54.4%
• In 2008, 60% of living donors were women. The statistic is reversed for deceased donation.
• In 2008, 67% of all deceased donors were White, 16% were Black, 14% Hispanic and 2.5% Asian.
• As of November 2010, the national waiting list was made up of 45% White, 29% Black, 18% Hispanic, and 6% Asian.
• In 2007, (the most recent data) there were almost 2.5 million deaths in the U.S. Imagine if every one of those persons had donated.
• Currently, more than 86 million people in the U.S. are signed up to be a donor—sign up and join them.

Because you may save up to 8 lives through organ donation and enhance many others through tissue donation.
Last year alone, organ donors made more than 28,000 transplants possible. Another one million people received cornea and other tissue transplants that helped them recover from trauma, bone damage, spinal injuries, burns, hearing impairment and vision loss.

Unfortunately, thousands die every year waiting for a donor organ that never comes. You have the power to change that.

Organ and tissue donation and transplantation provide a second chance at life for thousands of people each year. You have the opportunity to be one of the individuals who make these miracles happen.

By deciding to be a donor, you give the gift of hope ... hope for the thousands of individuals awaiting organ transplants and hope for the millions of individuals whose lives could be enhanced through tissue transplants.

Use the link below and then select your state to register as an organ, tissue, and eye donor.

Organ Donor State Registries

Be involved. There are many opportunities available to help promote donation in your community, workplace and place of worship.

Workplace Partnership for Life

The Workplace Partnership for Life (WPFL) is a national initiative that unites the federal government with the organ donation community and businesses, organizations, and associations committed to spreading the word on the importance of donor registration. Workplace Partners have helped register more than 580,000 new donors in the U.S. Their shared goal is promoting a "donation-friendly America" by fostering donation education and creating opportunities for individuals to sign up to save lives through organ and tissue donation.

Workplace Partners have helped register thousands of new
donors in the U.S.

Join the Workplace Partnership for Life and help save lives.
What is the Workplace Partnership for Life?

The Workplace Partnership for Life (WPFL) is a national initiative, created in 2001, that unites the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) with the organ and tissue donation community and businesses, organizations, and associations to spread the word about the importance of organ, eye, tissue, blood, and bone marrow donation and to encourage the American public to register as donors. This nationwide network of more than 11,000 “Partners” includes local, regional, and national companies, associations, unions, and academic, volunteer, philanthropic, and community-focused organizations of all kinds. Their shared goal is promoting a "donation-friendly America" by fostering donation education and creating opportunities for individuals to sign up to save lives through organ and tissue donation.

What Do Workplace Partners Do?

Workplace Partners make a commitment to educate their employees, members, and/or customers on the critical importance of blood, bone marrow, and organ and tissue donation and join to provide opportunities for people to register as donors. Workplace Partners join with HRSA and local donation organizations and other groups to help educate their constituents about organ and tissue, blood and bone marrow donation.

•  Workplace Partners create and share innovative donation-awareness programs, tailored to their companies or organizations
• One key strategy is Give 5—Save Lives. Workplace Partners select one to three dates and give employees five minutes during those work days to sign up to become donors.
• Workplace Partners use or customize materials and tools such as email blasts, fact sheets, newsletter articles, and Web banners available from HHS to encourage donation in their workplace.

Hospital Campaign Tool Kit
Give Five, Save Lives Materials
Campus Campaign Tool Kit

How to Get Started?

Sign up as a Workplace Partner today!
If you would like to become a Workplace Partner, submit the sign up form below by e-mail, fax or mail to:
Workplace Partnership for Life
Attn: Venus Walker
Division of Transplantation
5600 Fishers Lane, Room 12C-05
Rockville, MD 20857
E-mail: vwalker@hrsa.gov
Fax: (301) 594-6095
 

Join the Campus Challenge

A campaign that brings together local organ and tissue donation organizations and colleges, universities, and other post-secondary campuses to help save lives. Become a Campus Challenge Partner and help spread the word on the critical need for organ and tissue donors. Get Involved.

Campus Challenge Partners have helped register more than 131,000 new donors.

Join or create a Donation Campus Challenge and help save lives.
The success of the 2009 campus campaign generated interest on campuses around the Nation. Many post secondary institutions are continuing - or starting- campus efforts to increase donor registration. We intend to do everything possible to continue and support those efforts. Although there is no 2010 National Donation Campus Challenge, the 2009 campaign information and materials will remain on our Website so that whatever will be helpful to such efforts remains available. Please remember that statistics will very probably require updating. Current statistics can be found at http://optn.transplant.hrsa.gov/.

What is the Campus Challenge?

Launched in 2009, the National Donation Campus Challenge was a campaign to bring together organ and tissue donation organizations and universities, colleges, and other post-secondary campuses to educate campus communities on the critical need for organ and tissue donors and to increase donor registration through statewide donor registries.

• Campus Challenge campaigns promote and strengthen the spirit of student involvement!
• College students work together – with their campus communities and with local organ and tissue donation organizations – to spread the word about donation and provide opportunities for students, faculty, administrators, and alumni to register as organ and tissue donors.

Sign up! Become a Campus Challenge Partner Today!

Campus Challenge Partners, both “Campus Partners” – colleges, universities, and other post-secondary schools – and “National Partners” – national organizations and associations whose members are involved with institutions of higher learning – can join and get involved in the National Donation Campus Challenge.

• Campus Partners participate by implementing campaign actions on campus including special events, competitions, public relations and social media campaigns, and donor registry drives to raise awareness on their campuses about the importance of organ and tissue donation and encourage donation registration.
• National Partners participated by promoting the Campus Challenge to their membership and encouraging members to support the campaign and engage others on campus to work toward enrolling as Campus Partners.

In 2009 Campus Challenge Partners Included:

• American Association of Community Colleges
• Association of Public Land-Grant Colleges External
• National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics (NACDA)
• National Association of Student Affairs Administrators in Higher Education (NASPA)

How to Engage your Campus?

• Enlist the support and participation of fellow students and student groups on campus.
• Contact campus administration (Student Life, Communications, Health and/or Athletic Departments) to request high-level campus campaign support.
• Utilize the Campus Partner Tool Kit materials as guides and to support your school’s campus campaign.
• Partner with your local organ and tissue donation organization. They can support your Campus Challenge campaign with additional ideas, resources, and materials.
• Be inspired! Check out these Campus Partner Stories to read about some successful campaigns led by Campus Partners and donation organizations.

Materials and Resources

Check out the Campus Challenge Campaign Tool Kit, containing resources and tools created to support Campus Partners and National Partners in promoting and implementing a successful Campus Challenge campaign.
Campus Campaign Tool Kit

Join the WPFL Hospital Campaign

A campaign that unites local organ, eye, and tissue donation organizations together with hospitals, health care organizations, medical associations, and their communities to help save lives through transplantation by increasing enrollment in state donor registries. Become a Hospital Campaign Partner and help spread the word on the critical need for organ and tissue donors. Sign up to participate in the campaign and let others know how they can sign up to "let life bloom."

Let Life Bloom!
Become a WPFL Hospital Campaign Partner Today.

How does the campaign work?

• Hospital Partners work together with their local organ, eye, or tissue donation organizations to create fun donation registration drives, social media campaigns, and other events to raise awareness and encourage people to register as donors. Activities are carried out in the hospital facilities and in the local community at large.
• National Partners participate by promoting the WPFL Hospital Campaign to their membership and encouraging members to support the campaign.

Who is encouraged to join?

• OPOs. Are you in public relations, development, or education at an organ, eye, or tissue donation organization? Join today using the enrollment form below, and indicate which hospitals or healthcare institutions in your area will be your partners in the campaign.
• Hospitals and other healthcare institutions. The campaign provides a wealth of resources to use in your workplace (see below). Join today using the enrollment form below. We can put you in touch with organ, eye, and tissue donation organizations in your area for more ideas, resources, and materials.

Get started today!

• Submit the enrollment form to let us know you’re participating in the campaign.
• Enlist the support and participation of fellow employees and groups within the hospital.
• Contact hospital administration (President and Vice President's Office, Head of Nursing, Communications/Media Relations) to request high-level hospital support of the campaign.
• Use the Hospital Campaign Tool Kit materials as guides to support your hospital's campaign.
• Get connected. The WPFL Hospital Campaign Leadership Team hosts monthly call-in learning and networking sessions for partners to share strategies, successes, and challenges—a key energizing component of the campaign.

Enrollment Forms

Enrollment Form (PDF - 185 KB)
Additional Partners (PDF - 167 KB)

Materials and Resources

Use these written and visual materials to create a successful donation registration program. (Please note that statistics may require updating; current statistics can be found at optn.transplant.hrsa.gov).

The WPFL Hospital Campaign Tool Kit contains posters and tent cards, web banners, news release templates, public service announcements, e-mails, and letters, along with strategies and suggestions for planning and promoting a successful campaign.
WPFL Hospital Campaign Tool Kit—“Let Life Bloom” Graphics
WPFL Hospital Campaign Tool Kit—“I Signed Up” Graphics