Communities join together to inspire new organ and tissue donor registrations as nine in 10 support donation, but only 60% are registered
ITASCA, Ill. (April 1, 2024)—Gift of Hope Organ & Tissue Donor Network is urging residents in Illinois and northwest Indiana to “Say Yes!” to registering as organ and tissue donors during National Donate Life Month in April. The goal is to inspire 25,000 people to join the donor registry.
While 95% of people in United States support donation, fewer than 60% are registered organ and tissue donors . To help close the gap, Gift of Hope is joining communities across the country to honor the generosity of organ and tissue donors and their families and educate the public about the life-giving gift of donation.
Illinois and northwest Indiana residents can learn more about organ, eye and tissue donation and register their decision today at giftofhope.org. Residents can also register through the Illinois Secretary of State’s Life Goes On website, the Donate Life Indiana donor registry, or a state driver’s services facility. All are encouraged to share support for organ and tissue donation and transplantation on social media using #SayYestoDonation #GiftofHope and tagging @giftofhope.
Throughout National Donate Life Month, hundreds of advocates including hospitals, coroners, funeral directors, ambassadors, municipalities and other community partners throughout Illinois and northwest Indiana will join Gift of Hope to organize events in support of organ and tissue donation and to commemorate donors and their families.
Landmarks across Illinois will “Light It Up Purple” in public display of support for donation and to shine a light on the gift of life and healing that donation provides, including:
- Murray Baker Bridge in Peoria, Ill. from April 1-5
- Nicholas Conservatory in Rockford, Ill. on April 4
- Morgan Street Bridge in Rockford, Ill. from April 1-7
- Rockford City Hall in Rockford, Ill. from April 1-7
- Millennium Carillon in Naperville, Ill. from April 1-14
- Willis Tower in Chicago from April 5-6
- Centennial Wheel at Navy Pier in Chicago April 6
- Blue Cross Blue Shield of Illinois in Chicago on April 6
“This National Donate Life Month, we honor donors and their families who saved and enhanced the lives of others as organ and tissue donors and offered hope to the more than 100,000 people currently on the national transplant waiting list,” said Gift of Hope President/CEO Harry Wilkins, MD. “We are proud to join forces with communities, partners and advocates in underscoring the importance of life-giving organ and tissue donation and encouraging people to register their decision as organ and tissue donors.”
In Illinois and Indiana, more than 5,000 people are waiting for a life-saving organ transplant. Nationally, 17 people die each day waiting. One individual can save up to eight lives as an organ donor, heal more than 25 people in need of skin grafts, bone or tendon grafts or other donated tissue, and help restore sight for two people.
About Gift of Hope Organ & Tissue Donor Network:
Gift of Hope Organ & Tissue Donor Network is the not-for-profit organ procurement organization (OPO) that coordinates organ and tissue donation and provides public education on donation in Illinois and northwest Indiana. As one of 56 OPOs that make up the nation’s organ donation system, Gift of Hope works with 180 hospitals and serves 12 million people in its donation service area. Since 1986, its work has saved the lives of more than 26,000 organ transplant recipients and improved the lives of hundreds of thousands of tissue transplant recipients. For more information, visit giftofhope.org.