To address the critical need for more organ, eye and tissue donors, Donate Life America has
launched the 20 Million in 2012 campaign. Donate Life organizations throughout the country are
participating in national events like Donate Life Wear Your Blue and Green Day, Donate Life
Linking Hands Across America, Donate Life Champions and Fan for Life, and Donate Life
Flash Mobs to help to draw attention to the need. Donate Life North Carolina and Donate Life
South Carolina are also reaching out to our state Chambers of Commerce to help increase
awareness and register more donors. We have put together this informational document to help
you participate and support our cause.
Action Ideas For Registering Organ, Eye and Tissue Donors
1. Sponsor a presentation on donation such as a “Lunch & Learn” program. Where and
when available, utilize the Donate Life volunteer speakers bureau. We have transplant
recipients, donor family members and transplant professionals who are trained speakers
to discuss this important topic.
2. Send a paper, electronic, or voice message promoting donation from your CEO to each
employee.
3. Encourage employees to learn more by becoming a Facebook “Fan” of Donate Life
North Carolina and/or Donate Life South Carolina. Also, follow Donate Life NC and
Donate Life SC on Twitter.
4. Include an electronic banner on your web page and in e-mails. (Use 20 Million in 2012
Web banners and Facebook buttons)
5. Include articles or public service ads about donation and how to register as a donor in
your company newsletter.
6. Post information on your bulletin board or in your newsletters about
donation/transplantation and how to register to become a donor.
7. Sponsor a blood drive, marrow drive, or organ/eye/tissue donation registration event.
Some companies create competitions among departments or field offices.
8. Provide a scheduled break time with refreshments for employees who register to be
donors.
9. Invite representatives from the Donate Life organizations to attend a pre-existing
employee health/benefits fair.
10. Share your best in-house efforts with others in the Chamber of Commerce community.
For more information and content for all of these action items, contact:
In North Carolina:
In South Carolina:
Sharon Hirsch
Executive Director
Donate Life North Carolina
shirsch@donatelifenc.org
919-451-7893
Tracy Armstrong
CEO
Donate Life South Carolina
tarmstrong@donatelifesc.org
864-609-5270
Facts about Organ, Eye and Tissue Donation
As of March 2012, more than 113,000 people are currently awaiting a life-saving organ
transplant in the U.S. Approximately 1,500 of those waiting are in South Carolina and over
3,500 are in North Carolina.

Most of the patients on the waiting list need a kidney (approximately 90% in SC and
86% in NC).

Every 90 minutes someone dies in the U.S. awaiting a transplant.

If you are sick or injured, the number one priority of medical personnel is to save
your life.

Organ, tissue and eye donation can only be considered after you are declared
dead.

The most commonly transplanted organs are the kidneys, liver, heart, lungs,
pancreas and small intestines. Corneas, heart valves, tendons, skin and many other
tissues may also be donated.

You have the power to save eight lives through organ donation and to improve the
lives of more than 50 others through tissue donation.

No medical condition prevents you from signing up on the donor registry – medical
criteria at the time of donation will determine what is transplantable.

Cornea transplants have been successful for more than 100 years.

Organ transplants have been successful for more than 50 years.
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