PENNSYLVANIA — Donate Life Pennsylvania celebrated its fifth annual PA Donor Day on August 1. The group encourages Pennsylvanians to support organ, eye and tissue donation and to register to be donors.

Eight lives can be saved by one organ donor. (Hence the celebration on 8/1.)

August 1 also marks the beginning of National Minority Donor Awareness Month, an initiative led by the National Multicultural Organ, Eye and Tissue Action Group to help create a positive culture around organ, eye and tissue donation in diverse communities.

Currently, more than 100,000 patients are on the national transplant waiting list, including 6,500 Pennsylvanians, indicating the critical need for registered donors.

“The need for more registered organ donors is a public health crisis we all have the power to impact,” said Richard Hasz Jr., president/CEO of the Gift of Life Donor Program. “PA Donor Day and National Minority Donor Awareness Month celebrate that power as we urge everyone to become an organ donor, share your decision and encourage others. Together, we can bring hope to our thousands of neighbors on the transplant waitlist.” 

Individuals can learn more and register online at www.donatelifepa.org/register/.