On Thursday, May 19, State Representative Michael O’Brien joined organ transplant recipients and Gift of Life Donor Program President and CEO Howard M. Nathan at the Gift of Life headquarters to announce a new organ donor registration initiative.

Donate Life Pennsylvania representatives have launched a new initiative that aims to increase the number of organ and tissue donors. Over the next few weeks, the initiative will spread awareness about organ and tissue donation by canvassing AT&T Station by the South Philly Sport Complex, and encourage riders to register to become organ and tissue donors. Canvassers will help riders register using http://www.donatelifepa.org/registration.

“We hope this campaign will encourage Philadelphians take the easy, life-saving step of registering to be an organ and tissue donor,” State Rep. O’Brien said. “With thousands people on transplant waiting lists and so many others unaware of how easy it is to sign up, I hope everyone takes 30 seconds to sign up.”

“Life shouldn’t be a numbers game,” the initiative says, highlighting facts such as:

• Someone in PA dies every 18 hours waiting for a life-saving organ.
• 8,048 people in PA are waiting for a life-saving organ transplant.
• 3,487 people in PA were added to the transplant waiting list last year.
• Polls show that while 90 percent of people say they support donation, only 46 percent of residents are registered organ and tissue donors on their driver’s license or state ID cards.

“It has never been easier or faster to register as an organ and tissue donor. You can do it on your smartphone while you wait for the train. We are asking Philadelphians to consider the numbers and remember that behind every single one is a family hoping for more time with a loved one,” said Howard M. Nathan, President and CEO of Gift of Life Donor Program.