UPCOMING EVENTS

National Minority Donor Awareness Day: Friday, August 1, 2008
Donors and their families from varied ethnic backgrounds are honored nationwide on August 1, the observance of National Minority Donor Awareness Day. In 2003, more than 1,900 of the nearly 6,500 deceased donors recovered in the U.S. were minorities. African American, Hispanic/Latino, Asian, Alaskan Native, Pacific Islander and Native American organ donors are recognized on this date for their generosity.

The national event focuses on fears and obstacles related to minority organ donation. The event's objective is to promote healthier living and disease prevention, and to increase organ donation among minorities and to informed their families of their wish to donate.

Diabetes, hypertension, heart disease, hepatitis, blood disorders and glaucoma disproportionately impact minorities. Minorities account for nearly half of those waiting for an organ transplant. Since patients in need of a transplant are more likely to find a genetically compatible match within their own racial/ethnic group, particularly for kidneys and bone marrow, increasing minority donations is critical.

President Bill Clinton first recognized National Minority Donor Awareness Day in 1996. The Minority Organ and Tissue Transplant Education Program (MOTTEP), based at Howard University in Washington, D.C, originated the idea.

Facts and Statistics

• Currently, there are more than 98,000 people waiting for a transplant – 21% of them are Californians and over 500 of them are in the GSDS area.
• On average, eighteen people die everyday in the U.S. while waiting for a lifesaving transplant due to a lack of available organs.
• Approximately 50% of those waiting for a transplant are minorities and 27% of those are African Americans.
• African Americans account for 35% of those waiting for a kidney.
• More than one-third of those waiting will die before a donor can be found.
• Every 13 minutes, another name is added to the waiting list.
• Zero lives will be saved if you do nothing.
• Save lives by signing up to become an organ donor, share your decision with your family.

National Donor Sabbath: Friday, November 7th-Sunday, November 9th, 2008. National Donor Sabbath for organ and tissue donation will be Friday November 7th through Sunday November 9th, 2008, and it's all about giving life. GSDS urges area churches, synagogues and temples to enlighten their congregation on the life-saving importance of becoming a donor. For FREE materials please contact us – vdoolittle@dcids.org. Right now, more than 98,000 men, women and children in the United States are waiting for a life-saving organ transplant. Today, 18 people will die because they won't get the organ transplant they so desperately need.

2007 ThanksGIVING Day - Give Thanks. Give Life.
Americans know the importance of giving thanks at Thanksgiving. The ThanksGiving Day - Give Thanks. Give Life. program encourages everyone to spend a few minutes talking to family this November about the importance of giving life. Your commitment to Donate Life could save or enhance the lives of up to 50 people, just as someone else's decision could someday save the life of someone around your table.

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