GENESEO, N.Y., Apr. 13, 2023 — The Livingston County Board of Supervisors has declared April 2023 as Donate Life Month in an effort to highlight and promote awareness of the benefits of organ donation. Additionally, the County Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) is teaming up with Donate Life New York State in observance of National Donate Life Month (NDLM), celebrating the lifesaving impact made by organ, eye and tissue donors. Donate Life NYS is a statewide non-profit organization whose mission is to increase organ, eye and tissue donation in New York State through collaborative advocacy, education, research and promotion. The theme of 2023’s Donate Life Month, “Make a Splash,” was inspired by the natural world of a pond coming to life in the spring.
“The Livingston County DMV is proud to provide visitors with the opportunity to ‘make a splash’ by enrolling in the New York State Donate Life Registry when conducting a license, permit or non-driver ID transaction,” said Andrea K. Bailey, Livingston County Clerk. “During the entire month of April, our offices will be raising awareness of the critical need for organ, eye and tissue donation in New York State.”
While nearly 3,400 lifesaving organ transplants were performed in state last year, more than 8,100 New Yorkers remain on the national organ transplant waitlist. In 2022, more than 400 patients awaiting an organ transplant in New York State died because the organ needed to save their lives was not donated in time.
“DMVs throughout the state have already helped nearly six million New Yorkers enroll in the New York State Donate Life Registry,” explained Aisha Tator, Executive Director of Donate Life NYS. By providing the opportunity for the public to enroll in the NYS Donate Life Registry, they are the key to saving and healing the lives of the thousands of New Yorkers in need of a transplant.”
Donate Life NYS operates the New York State Donate Life Registry, an electronic database that documents a person’s consent to be an organ, eye and tissue donor upon their death, under contract with the State of New York. New Yorkers age sixteen or older who haven’t already enrolled have several opportunities to do so:
- Check “yes” in the “New York State Organ and Tissue Donation” section when applying for or renewing your driver license, learner permit or non-driver ID. The DMV will transmit your enrollment to the Registry and print a heart icon and the words “Organ Donor” on your photo document.
- Sign up through the MyDMV website located at dmv.ny.gov/mydmv/mydmv-0 using your NY.gov login credentials. The DMV will transmit your enrollment to the Registry, but a heart icon and the words “Organ Donor” will not be printed on your photo document.
- Enroll online in just minutes by visiting the Registry’s website located at donatelife.ny.gov.
- Complete the optional “Register to donate your organs and tissues” section on the back of your NYS voter registration form. Your county Board of Elections will forward that page of the form to the New York State Donate Life Registry.
- Check “yes” to the organ and tissue donation question when applying for health insurance through the New York State of Health Online Insurance Marketplace (nystateofhealth.ny.gov).
Additionally, New Yorkers can show their support for organ and tissue donation by purchasing a “Life-Pass It On” custom license plate from the DMV or making a voluntary $1 contribution to organ transplant research, education and donation promotion projects by checking off the box when applying for or renewing their driver license, learner permit or non-driver ID.
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About Livingston County:
Founded in 1821, Livingston County, N.Y., is comprised of more than 61,000 residents in 17 towns located across 631 square miles of the Finger Lakes region.