Life goes on: a newsletter for Secretary of State facility employees and other organ/tissue donor advocates

              April is an important time of
year for the Secretary of State’s
office as we celebrate
Organ/Tissue Donor Awareness
Month. Donor families,
recipients and friends are
speaking out about the
importance of organ and tissue
donation.
To emphasize the need for more
organ donors, our Organ/Tissue
Donor Program is sponsoring
many events throughout the
month in Bloomington,
Carbondale, Chicago, Springfield
and other Illinois communities.
It is exciting to witness the
resounding support the program
receives from local community
groups and organizations.
Driver Services facilities
throughout the state are
showing their support by
displaying Organ Donor posters
and distributing materials to
customers. Many facilities are
hosting organ/tissue donor
awareness tables, handing out
materials and answering
questions and concerns from
customers. The hard work of our
facility personnel is reflected in
our Organ Donor Registry.
Currently, there are more than
5.6 million potential donors
listed in the registry, making
Illinois’ registry the largest in
the nation. I thank each of you
for doing your part in giving the
gift of life to those in need.
Jesse White
Illinois Secretary of State
Here in Illinois, the entire month of April is
designated as Organ/Tissue Donor
Awareness Month; however, National
Organ/Tissue Donor Awareness Week is
officially April 20-26.
This year, 10 Illinois communities have
formed committees to coordinate “Life
Goes On” events in April. They include
Bloomington/Normal, Carbondale, East St.
Louis, Illinois Valley, Springfield, Chicago,
Quincy, Peoria, Randolph County and
Rockford. Schools, local businesses, clergy,
labor, medical personnel, procurement
agencies, recipients and donor family
members will join together to spread the
word about the critical need for organs
and tissue to help save lives.
In some areas, volunteers will sponsor
displays at local Driver Services facilities,
and several school districts are holding
essay contests. A “Hoops for Hope” event
is planned in Carbondale, and other areas
are sponsoring health fairs. Green ribbons
are being distributed in various areas of
the state to remind people that there are
5,000 people in Illinois waiting for organs.
“Each year we are amazed to see how the
registry numbers increase in those areas
where ‘Life Goes On’ activities are held,”
said Secretary of State Jesse White. “This
proves that education is key to a
successful program, and through that
effort more and more Illinois residents
agree to participate in the registry.”
If you would like to participate in
Organ/Tissue Donor Awareness Month
events in your community, have an idea for
promoting organ/tissue donation or know
of someone who has a story to tell about
organ/tissue donation, please call 217-
782-6258.
Illinois celebrates Organ/Tissue Donor Month
Members of the Peoria “Life Goes On” Committee.
The Springfield “Life Goes On” Committee
prepares for their big April event.