LOS ANGELES--(BUSINESS WIRE)--OneLegacy is kicking off Donate Life Month in April with multiple events and observances that will take place across the seven counties it serves. With over 295 activities that began in early March and will extend through the end of April, OneLegacy is joining dozens of organizations across the country to remind Americans about the importance of donation and registering as an organ, eye and tissue donor.
Thanks to the help of staff, volunteers, elected officials, and hospital and community partners, OneLegacy expects to reach over 20 million people in Southern California through local activities that range from city proclamations and flag-raising ceremonies, to educational events and the largest run/walk of its kind in the U.S. This year’s observances will mobilize more than 39 hospitals and transplant centers; over 132 cities; seven counties; hundreds of volunteers; and thousands of organ, eye and tissue donation advocates.
“Every year we are fortunate to partner with local hospitals, transplant centers, community partners, and city officials to inform and inspire Southern Californians to register to Donate Life,” said Tom Mone, CEO of OneLegacy. “With nearly 35,000 organ transplants performed last year and five consecutive record-setting years for transplants in the U.S., we honor our friends, neighbors and communities who have chosen to save and heal lives by registering; and we are grateful to so many of them who join us in activities to promote and celebrate Donate Life Month.”
CITY OFFICIALS’ PROCLAMATIONS
Thanks to the help of dozens of OneLegacy Ambassadors and Embajadores, over 132 city proclamations are being issued to declare April as Donate Life Month. This amazing group of committed individuals volunteer their time to share their stories of donation and inspire the community to donate, and they work every year with local city officials in seven counties – Los Angeles, Kern, Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino, Santa Barbara and Ventura – to continue supporting organ, eye and tissue donation with their proclamations.
FLAGS ACROSS AMERICA: LOCAL FLAG RAISING CEREMONIES
The “Flags Across America” initiative started in 2009 as a symbol of unity and hope and to honor those who have given a second chance at life to others through donation. OneLegacy is joining dozens of organizations this year by rallying every donor hospital and transplant center, as well as all recovery agencies, to raise the Donate Life flag during the month of April. This year’s efforts will result in over 45 flags being raised across Southern California.
BLUE & GREEN DAY
Blue and green are the official Donate Life colors; and every year, Blue & Green Day is celebrated during National Donate Life Month in April to raise awareness of donation. This year’s Blue & Green Day celebration is on Friday, April 13; and dozens of local DMV offices, hospitals, transplant centers and other organizations will join OneLegacy to celebrate National Donate Life Blue & Green Day. April is a special month to visit local DMV offices, vibrantly decorated by the DMV staff as part of a month-long photo contest to show their support for donation. OneLegacy’s partnership with the DMV includes special events, ongoing educational sessions to staff, and recognition to their staff and leadership. Their continuous support has resulted in 95 percent of the state's nearly 14.5 million designated donors who have joined the California registry. Additionally, several local organizations, businesses and hospital partners will encourage their staff to wear blue and green on April 13.
COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIPS
Every year OneLegacy partners with local hospitals, transplant centers, businesses and community advocacy organizations around the seven counties to host special educational and awareness events that engage our local community to learn more about the importance of donation. In partnership with Donor Network West in Northern California, Lee’s Sandwiches is hosting a special month-long “Cup of Life” campaign to encourage sandwich enthusiasts to learn more about donation and registering as donors. Other community partners hosting educational events in April include local hospitals and transplant centers, restaurants, businesses, high schools and colleges across Southern California.
DONATE LIFE RUN/WALK AT CAL STATE FULLERTON
OneLegacy will culminate the Donate Life Month celebrations with the 16th Annual Donate Life Run/Walk and Family Festival at Cal State Fullerton on Saturday, April 28. The Donate Life Run/Walk is the largest of its kind in the U.S. It gathers over 13,000 organ, eye and tissue donation advocates and their families. This year’s event will gather 229 donor family teams with over 3,821 donor family participants, close to 100 hospital teams, and dozens of other groups and organizations to help raise funds for the OneLegacy Foundation’s Public Education initiatives. Started by the Hosterts, a family touched by living organ donation, and now in its 16th year, this non-competitive event helps stress the importance of organ, eye and tissue donation and encourages people to register as donors.
OneLegacy is the nonprofit organization dedicated to saving and healing lives through organ, eye and tissue donation in the areas we serve. With more than 200 hospitals, 11 transplant centers and a diverse population of over 20 million, OneLegacy is the largest organ, eye and tissue recovery organization in the world.
For more information, visit www.OneLegacy.org, like us on Facebook, or follow us on Twitter and Instagram.
Donate Life Run/Walk information, registration and updates are available at www.DonateLifeRunWalk.org and through our social media channels: Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
To register to become an organ, eye, or tissue donor, visit http://www.donatelifecalifornia.org/onelegacy or www.doneVIDAcalifornia.org.
