PHILADELPHIA, PA — Each day in America, seventeen people lose their lives waiting for an organ transplant. The Gift of Life Donor Program, a link between organ donors and patients awaiting transplants, is responding to this crisis with a robust campaign. As they celebrate half a century of saving lives, the program has initiated a remarkable endeavor – to enroll 50,000 new organ donors and bring renewed hope to the thousands of people on the transplant waitlist.
The potential to save up to eight lives lies within each of us, regardless of our age, health, or medical history. With the “50,000 for 50” campaign, the Gift of Life Donor Program has simplified the organ donation process. Instead of visiting the Department of Motor Vehicles to indicate organ donor status on a driver’s license, individuals can privately sign up online at donors1.org/register.
According to Richard D. Hasz Jr., President and CEO of Gift of Life Donor Program, the need for registered organ donors is urgent. The donor pool is limited as only 1-2 percent of people who die in a hospital can donate their organs. Therefore, rallying the community to register is paramount to reduce the transplant waiting list and potentially save lives.
The Gift of Life Donor Program has extended an appeal to media, businesses, schools, community groups, and houses of worship to endorse the “50,000 for 50” initiative. By increasing the donor registry, we can address this public health crisis and augment the overall health and productivity of our community.
While organ donation is often overlooked until it affects one personally, the increased instances of diabetes, hypertension, and kidney disease suggest that anyone’s loved one could require an organ transplant to survive.
Celebrating 50 years of leadership in the field of organ and tissue donation and transplantation, the Gift of Life Donor Program hopes that the “50,000 for 50” campaign will continue its tradition of transforming lives. Earl Jones, a recipient of a heart transplant and a volunteer ambassador for the program, attests to this. Since his transplant in 2002, Earl has been blessed to witness his children grow up and has been able to spend precious moments with his grandchildren.
The “50,000 for 50” campaign also serves as a beacon of hope for the families of the donors. Cynthia London, mother of late organ donor Sipho Thembla, finds comfort in the knowledge that her son’s legacy as a donor hero lives on, and strongly advocates for the campaign.
As part of the campaign, the Gift of Life Donor Program is encouraging the community to support this life-saving mission. Individuals can follow the program on social media, host an organ donor registration drive, or invite the program to participate in community events. Registering as an organ donor only takes about 30 seconds, and those 30 seconds could spell a lifetime for someone.
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