PENNSYLVANIA — More than 100 partners are working together to meet the goal of having 50 percent of eligible Pennsylvanians registered as organ, eye and tissue donors. 

Donate Life Pennsylvania—a coalition aimed at increasing the number of donated organs, eyes and tissue available for life-saving transplants—will host its fourth annual PA Donor Day on August 1.

The point is to educate and encourage Pennsylvanians to become registered organ donors.

It is said that eight lives can be saved by one organ donor. Currently, more than 100,000 patients nationwide are on the transplant waiting list—7,000 of them are Pennsylvanians. 

Donate Life PA is a collaborative initiative between the Center for Organ Recovery & Education (CORE), the Gift of Life Donor Program, and the Pennsylvania Departments of Health, Education and Transportation.

PA Donor Day also kicks off August’s National Minority Donor Awareness Month. This is a collaborative initiative of the National Multicultural Action Group for organ, eye and tissue donations, to save and heal the lives of diverse communities by creating a positive culture for organ, eye and tissue donation, a spokesperson said.

More than 100 PA Donor Day partners have voiced their support for this critical public health issue, including the Wright Center, based in Scranton.

“When my father-in-law died unexpectantly in his 50s, the donation of his organs to those in need was a comfort to his family,” said Dr. Debra Bogen, PA acting secretary of health. “That’s why I am proud to support Donate Life Pennsylvania’s work to inspire more people to sign up to save lives. The best way that you can join us in celebrating this important day is by registering to be an organ donor—and it only takes 30 seconds.” 

Donate Life Pennsylvania invites any other employers, organizations and associations across the commonwealth to join the list of 2023 PA Donor Day participants. Visit donatelifepa.org/padonorday/.