Harrisburg, PA – The departments of Health and Transportation today highlighted the second annual organ donor day in Pennsylvania to encourage residents to register as an organ and tissue donor. One donor can save up to eight lives, so the significance of January 8, or 1/8, is the perfect reminder to take a few seconds to sign up.
“The need for registered donors in Pennsylvania is now greater than ever; fewer people have registered as organ donors in 2020 than in previous years,” Dr. Levine said. “Registering to be an organ and tissue donor has the potential to save many lives and can take only a few seconds. Organ and tissue transplants have become an integral part of health care in the state and across the nation, so I am encouraging Pennsylvanians to register as an organ donor and learn more about the importance of organ and tissue donation.”
Nearly 7,000 Pennsylvanians are among the more than 100,000 Americans currently waiting for a life-saving organ transplant. The significance of PA Donor Day, January 8 or 1/8, serves as a reminder that one donor can save up to eight lives through organ donation and enhance the lives of 75 others through tissue and corneal donation.
“Pennsylvania driver’s license and identification card holders can volunteer to possibly save a life through registering to be an organ donor when they get their picture taken for their license or ID card, or they can sign up anytime online,” PennDOT Secretary Yassmin Gramian said. “We are proud to play a part in these potentially life-saving efforts.”
Donate Life Pennsylvania is a collaborative initiative between the Pennsylvania Departments of Health, Education and Transportation, and Pennsylvania’s two organ procurement organizations, the Center for Organ Recovery & Education (CORE) and Gift of Life Donor Program (GOL). It is funded by residents of Pennsylvania through voluntary contributions included with driver’s license renewals, vehicle registrations and state income tax filings, or through direct check donations to the Governor Robert P. Casey Memorial Organ and Tissue Donation Awareness Trust Fund in care of the Pennsylvania Department of Health.
Trust Fund contributions are used to educate Pennsylvanians, build awareness about the importance of organ and tissue donation, and increase the number of people who register as organ donors on their driver’s license or state identification cards.
Residents who have a driver’s license or state I.D. card can add the donor designation to their record by visiting PennDOT’s website, www.penndot.gov--they do not have to wait to renew their license to donate.
For more information on organ donation or how to donate to the Governor Casey Trust Fund, visit www.health.pa.gov or follow us on Facebook and Twitter.
MEDIA CONTACT: April Hutcheson, Health, ra-dhpressoffice@pa.gov
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