Observed each year on Feb. 14, the day is an observance dedicated to spreading awareness and education about organ, tissue and cornea donation.
National Donor Day began in 1998 by the Saturn Corp. and its partner, the United Auto Workers. The observance is supported by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
By educating and sharing Donate Life America’s message, this is a time to focus on the importance of all types of lifesaving donation – organ, tissue, cornea, blood, platelets and marrow.
National Donor Day is also a day to recognize those who have given and received the gift of life through donation, those who are currently waiting for a lifesaving transplant and those who died waiting because an organ was not available.
In 2023, Indiana Donor Network transplanted 1,134 donated organs, saving 989 lives. Also, 1,393 tissue and cornea donors resulted in 16,154 tissues recovered to help save and heal lives. More than 4.4 million Hoosiers are now signed up to become organ donors. Donate Life Indiana led 1,018 school and community presentations and activations last year, reaching more than 278,882 Hoosiers throughout the state.
Despite age or medical history, anyone can sign up to be an organ donor. There are four ways that Hoosiers can sign up to become an organ donor:
– They can say “yes” when conducting business at their local Bureau of Motor Vehicles branch.
– They can sign up online at DonateLifeIndiana.org.
– They can sign up when they apply online for a hunting, fishing or trapping license through the state Department of Natural Resources.
– They can say “yes” through the Health app on their iPhone or iPad.
– County by County: Hoosiers waiting for a lifesaving organ transplant.
– Indiana Donor Network’s 2023 Year in Review.
– Facts about organ donation and transplantation.
– Facts about tissue donation.
– Frequently asked questions about donation and transplantation.
– The mission of Indiana Donor Network.
