100 Million in the U.S. Say “Yes” to Donation
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – Oct. 11, 2011
Columbus, OH – A goal set in 2006 by Donate Life America and the organ donation and transplant communities was achieved this month. One hundred million people in the United States are now reported as organ, eye and tissue donors through state donor registries.
The Ohio Donor Registry has 5 million registered organ, eye and tissue donors.
“This achievement is a reflection of the generosity of our nation, and evidence that efforts to educate people about the importance of donation have been successful,” said Kent Holloway, CEO of Lifeline of Ohio, the nonprofit that promotes and coordinates organ and tissue donation in central and southeastern Ohio.
“The 100 million registered organ and tissue donors give us hope that one day, no one will die while waiting for an organ transplant. But we still have work to do. Today, 18 people will die waiting for a transplant,” Holloway said.
As this achievement is celebrated, the need for transplants continues to grow. More than 112,000 men, women and children nationwide – including 3,400 Ohioans – await lifesaving organ transplants right now. Thousands more need healing tissue transplants.
Donate Life teams across the country will continue to work to save lives with a new goal of registering 20 million more donors by the end of 2012. Ohioans are encouraged to join the 100 million individuals already registered as organ, eye and tissue donors by visiting lifelineofohio.org.
About Lifeline of Ohio
Lifeline of Ohio (LOOP) is an independent, nonprofit organization whose mission is to promote and coordinate the donation of human organs and tissue for transplantation. Lifeline of Ohio is approved by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services as the designated organ procurement organization (OPO) serving 37 counties in Central and Southeastern Ohio, and Hancock and Wood counties in West Virginia. Lifeline of Ohio provides services to 72 hospitals through its transplant coordinators. LOOP’s clinical staff is on call 24 hours a day to coordinate the recovery and transport of tissue and organs for transplant.
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