FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 5, 2016
Harrisburg, PA – PennDOT invites driver license and identification card holders to celebrate National Donate Life Month in April by registering to be an organ donor and sharing a unique opportunity to help others in need live longer, better lives.
Governor Tom Wolf has proclaimed April Donate Life Month in Pennsylvania.
“Potential donors can take action today to give a person awaiting a transplant hope by adding the organ donor designation to their license or identification card, rather than waiting for renewal time,” said PennDOT Secretary Leslie S. Richards. “The short amount of time you invest online requesting the designation for your license or identification card holds the potential to save a life.”
More than 8,000 Pennsylvanians currently await organ transplants. Currently, nearly 46 percent of driver’s license and identification card holders are registered organ donors – that’s more than 4.6 million Pennsylvanians.
“More organ donors means more seriously ill individuals awaiting transplant can have the opportunity to live a full, productive life,” said Secretary of Health Dr. Karen Murphy. “There is a transformative power in organ donation; just one donor may save up to eight lives and enhance the lives of more than 50 people.”
Customers can easily add the organ donor designation to an existing driver’s license or identification card by visiting www.dmv.pa.gov and selecting the “Donate Life Pennsylvania” icon in the middle of the home page. Once the designation is added, individuals will receive a designation card that they will have to carry with them to affirm organ donor status until they renew or replace their driver’s license or identification card. There is no charge for adding the designation to your driver’s license or identification card.
Driver’s license and identification card holders, as well as registered vehicle owners, can also support organ donation programs by donating $1 to the Robert P. Casey Memorial Organ and Tissue Donation Awareness Trust Fund at the time of application and/or renewal. Proceeds from the fund are used to educate and promote awareness of the organ donor program through non-profit organizations like the Center for Organ Recovery and Education and the Gift of Life Donor Program. Pennsylvanians have generously donated nearly $13 million to the fund over the past 20 years.
As part of ongoing efforts to increase awareness of organ and tissue donation, video monitors featuring educational content are installed at 20 PennDOT photo license centers. More information on organ and tissue donation in Pennsylvania can be found at www.donatelife-pa.org.
MEDIA CONTACT:
Alexis Campbell, PennDOT, 717-787-0485, Amy Worden, Department of Health, 717-772-5014