Honoring the legacy of donors while empowering communities of color with facts and trust
ITASCA, Ill. (Aug. 1, 2024) — Organ and tissue donation is one of the most powerful gifts a person can give, and it begins with a decision and a conversation. This August, during National Minority Donor Awareness Month, Gift of Hope Organ & Tissue Donor Network urges individuals, especially in communities of color, to talk with their families about organ and tissue donation, get the facts and make the decision to register as a life-giving donor.
One person can save up to eight lives through organ donation, restore sight for two people through cornea donation, and improve life for more than 25 others through tissue donation. Today, more than 105,000 people in the U.S.—including more 5,000 in Illinois and northwest Indiana—are waiting for a life-saving organ transplant. Nearly 60% of those on the national transplant waiting list are people of color.
Black and Hispanic patients are disproportionately represented on the transplant waiting list because they are at higher risk of suffering from multiple health conditions like chronic kidney disease, diabetes, heart disease, and other conditions that can lead to organ failure and the need for an organ transplant.
“In 2025, nearly 600 Illinois patients who were African Americans or of Hispanic dissent received the life-saving gift of organ donation,” said Harry Wilkins, MD, President/CEO of Gift of Hope. “We honor these donor heroes and their families for their selfless decisions. It is important that every family feels confident and supported when making the decision to donate or when honoring their loved one who registered to be donor.”
While organs are matched based on medical criteria, not race, transplants can be more successful when donors and recipients share similar genetic backgrounds.
“Donation is a gift of life and love,” said Dr. Wilkins. “It’s vital that people of all backgrounds to register. By doing so and by having a simple but meaningful conversation with your loved ones you can create a powerful legacy of healing and hope.”
Registering as a donor relieves your family from making that choice during a time of grief, but it is also important to share your decision with your loved ones. This ensures they understand and support your wishes, which can bring comfort and clarity during a stressful time. Gift of Hope’s team works closely with families to honor cultural and spiritual traditions while making sure every donor’s legacy is preserved.
To register and learn more about organ and tissue donation, visit giftofhope.org.
About Gift of Hope Organ & Tissue Donor Network:
Gift of Hope Organ & Tissue Donor Network is the federally designated nonprofit organization that coordinates organ and tissue donation and educates the public in Illinois and northwest Indiana. Since 1986, Gift of Hope has helped save the lives of more than 29,000 organ transplant recipients and enhanced hundreds of thousands more through tissue donation. Learn more at giftofhope.org.