20 Million in 2012?!
I had the pleasure of attending the Donate Life America spring meeting in Denver last week. It’s always refreshing to connect with new and old colleagues and hear what’s happening around the country as we continue to work toward the goal of registering 100 million Americans.
Susan Mau Larson of LifeSource in Minnesota and the Faculty Chair of the Donor Designation Collaborative (the national effort launched in 2006 to register organ and tissue donors), shared the good news that we have 96.4 million people signed up as organ and tissue donors. That’s 41 percent of the adult population in the U.S.
Even better news: we are on track to reach the 100 million goal this fall; and we cannot wait to celebrate! So in true Collaborative style, the Donate Life America board issued the challenge of 125 million registered donors in 2012. We’ll need a surge of new registrants nationwide as we strive for 20 million in 2012. Are you a registered organ, eye and tissue donor?!
Donate Life America (DLA) Board Chairwoman Helen Bottenfield unveiled the new DLA mission, vision and values. As she remarked, “We are beyond raising awareness and acting as the voice for organ, eye and tissue donation. We are driving registrations. This is about LIFE.”
The updated DLA mission is to drive individuals, organizations and communities to increase the number of designated organ, eye and tissue donors who save and heal lives.
Another exciting component of the annual meeting is seeing the new Donate Life float! The Donate Life float in the Tournament of Roses Parade every Jan. 1 has been an inspiring way to share the message worldwide.
Bryan Stewart, vice president of communications at One Legacy in Los Angeles, unveiled the 2012 float design, One More Day, at the meeting. It is an inspiring design of clocks and a 30-foot-clock tower, focused on time, and the idea that love is spelled TIME. I can’t wait to see the 28 float riders and 64 floragraphs as the float makes it way down Colorado Blvd. in Pasadena and into the homes of millions on New Year’s Day.
The campaign to register 20 million Americans as donors in 2012 will launch with the parade and Donate Life float.
I feel so fortunate to work in such a life-changing field with such passionate colleagues across the U.S. I left Denver with a renewed energy and excitement and cannot wait to continue the good work we do every day to save and heal lives.
-Heather Blausey, community relations manager
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