Howard M. Nathan, CEO of Gift of Life Donor Program in Philadelphia.
Every April, National Donate Life Month raises awareness about organ and tissue donation. Across the country, activities take place to inspire Americans to register as organ, eye, and tissue donors. There are many ways you and your company can support this life-saving effort.
Critical need for organ donors
The need for organ donors is a serious public health issue, affecting your employees, your customers, and their families. Approximately 115,000 people are waiting for an organ in the U.S., and 20 people die waiting every day. In our region, 5,300 men, women, and children are waiting for a life-saving transplant.
As business leaders, you can help them by raising awareness about the importance of registering as an organ donor. The need is especially pronounced in Philadelphia County, which has the lowest organ donor designation rate in Pennsylvania.
Just one organ donor can save up to eight lives and one tissue donor can benefit as many as 75 others. Last year, our region, with its world-renowned transplant centers and generous donor families, led the nation in the number of organ donors and life-saving transplants. Imagine what we could do if we all worked together to improve registration rates.