Celebrating the Lifesaving Gift of Organ Donation

February 14, 2023

If you haven’t given blood recently or registered to become an organ and tissue donor, today is a perfect day to take action.

Recognized annually on February 14, National Donor Day focuses on the ongoing need for organs, tissues, marrow, platelets, and blood. The annual observance celebrates the lifesaving gift of organ donation, while recognizing donors, patients on the transplant list, and those who died while waiting for a transplant.

The Health Resources and Services Administration highlights the following key facts about organ donation:

• Waiting list:  More than 104,000 people are on the national transplant waiting list, including about 8,000 in Pennsylvania
• Making an impact:  Every donor can save eight lives and help up to 75 more
• Largest need:  More than 90,000 people were on the waiting list for a kidney transplant during 2021, and 24,670 were performed that year
• A growing challenge:  Every 10 minutes, someone new is added to the transplant waiting list
• Across demographics:  People of all ages are on the waiting rise from children under 5 (605) to people 65 and older (26,929)

During April, HAP will partner with the Pennsylvania Department of Health, and the two organ procurement organizations serving Pennsylvania—the Center for Organ Recovery & Education and Gift of Life Donor Program—for the 2023 HAP Donate Life Pennsylvania Hospital Challenge.

The annual challenge encourages Pennsylvania hospitals to increase organ donation awareness and designations within their hospitals and communities. This year’s challenge will be from April 1, 2023, in conjunction with National Donate Life Month, and end April 30.

Additional information about becoming an organ donor is available online.

To learn more, contact Mary Marshall, HAP’s senior director, workforce and professional development.