HARRISBURG, PA — In a concerted effort to bolster the state’s organ donor registry, the Pennsylvania Departments of Transportation (PennDOT) and Health, alongside prominent organ donation organizations, are calling on Pennsylvanians to consider registering as organ donors. This initiative coincides with National Donate Life Month in April, aiming to address the critical need for organ transplants across the state.
PennDOT Secretary Mike Carroll emphasized the impact of individual decisions to become organ donors, noting that registration can occur at any time, not just when renewing a driver’s license or identification card. According to PennDOT, nearly five million Pennsylvanians, accounting for over 49 percent of driver’s license and identification card holders, are currently registered as organ donors. However, with nearly 7,000 individuals in the state awaiting organ transplants, the need for more donors is urgent.
Acting Secretary of Health Dr. Debra Bogen highlighted the profound effect organ and tissue donations can have on recipients and their families. “Organ and tissue donation has touched most of our lives,” Dr. Bogen stated, underscoring the life-saving potential of each registered donor. Indeed, one organ donor can save up to eight lives, a testament to the power of this selfless act.
Adding the organ donor designation to a driver’s license or identification card is a straightforward process, facilitated by PennDOT’s online services. There is no charge for making this addition, and individuals will receive a designation card to confirm their donor status until their next renewal or replacement of their driver’s license or ID card.
Moreover, Pennsylvanians have the opportunity to support organ donation programs financially by contributing $3 to the Governor Robert P. Casey Memorial Organ and Tissue Donation Awareness Trust Fund during application or renewal processes. These donations fund vital education and awareness campaigns conducted by non-profit organizations like the Center for Organ Recovery and Education (CORE) and the Gift of Life Donor Program.
With ongoing efforts to promote organ and tissue donation awareness, including advertisements at driver’s license centers, Pennsylvania aims to increase the number of registered donors. For those considering this life-affirming decision, the process takes merely 30 seconds but can yield a lifetime of difference for individuals and families in need. To learn more about becoming an organ donor, residents are encouraged to visit www.donatelifepa.org, www.core.org, or www.donors1.org.
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