SACRAMENTO – Assemblyman John J. Benoit (R-Bermuda Dunes) joined families of organ and tissue donors and organ transplant recipients at the State Capitol to highlight the success of the Donate Life California Organ & Tissue Donor Registry, which has signed up over three million Californians who have pledged to save and heal lives with their donations. Benoit joined Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger, Assemblywoman Sharon Runner (R-Lancaster), Assemblyman Tom Berryhill (R-Modesto), DMV representatives, and allied health professionals in a press conference this morning to officially commemorate April´s DMV/Donate Life California Month.
Assemblyman Benoit, a dedicated advocate for the organ donor registry, said, "Right now, more than 20,000 Californians are on the waiting list for organ transplants. These Californians share our hope that the greater number of donors, now at 3 million, signing up for this registry will provide that second chance for life. I am proud to commemorate the program´s success in registering so many people who want to make the ultimate difference by expressing their wish to give life."
Altogether, registered organ and tissue donors saved or healed more than 3,000 lives in 2007. Anyone can sign up on the Donate Life California Registry, and unlike blood donation, there are few automatic rule-outs.
"We are pleased that in the last year, the Donate Life California Registry has shown its value as a tool to save and heal lives," Bryan Stewart, President of Donate Life California, said. "With one million designated donors signing up every eight months, the life-saving impact of the registry is on an upward trajectory."
The success of the Donate Life California Registry owes much to its partnership with the Department of Motor Vehicles. "Today we celebrate three million Californians who have signed up to become organ and tissue donors," DMV Director George Valverde said. "Those ´pink dots´ are more than mere symbols; they have taken on the power of advanced directives for organ and tissue donation for any California motorist who proudly chooses to display them."
The vast majority of the registry´s three million designated donors have signed up since the DMV began enrolling designated donors in July 2006. Due to the five year license renewal cycle, two-thirds of California drivers have not yet had the opportunity to check ´yes´ when they renew their license, and state lawmakers urge individuals to do so.
"The registry´s core promise – to save lives by ensuring individuals´ wishes to donate are honored – is accomplishing its life-saving mission," Stewart said.
Donate Life California is a nonprofit, state-authorized organ and tissue donor registry, administered by California´s four nonprofit, federally designated organ procurement organizations, each responsible for facilitating the donation process in the state: California Transplant Donor Network, Golden State Donor Services, Lifesharing and OneLegacy.
Assemblyman Benoit, a dedicated advocate for the organ donor registry, said, "Right now, more than 20,000 Californians are on the waiting list for organ transplants. These Californians share our hope that the greater number of donors, now at 3 million, signing up for this registry will provide that second chance for life. I am proud to commemorate the program´s success in registering so many people who want to make the ultimate difference by expressing their wish to give life."
Altogether, registered organ and tissue donors saved or healed more than 3,000 lives in 2007. Anyone can sign up on the Donate Life California Registry, and unlike blood donation, there are few automatic rule-outs.
"We are pleased that in the last year, the Donate Life California Registry has shown its value as a tool to save and heal lives," Bryan Stewart, President of Donate Life California, said. "With one million designated donors signing up every eight months, the life-saving impact of the registry is on an upward trajectory."
The success of the Donate Life California Registry owes much to its partnership with the Department of Motor Vehicles. "Today we celebrate three million Californians who have signed up to become organ and tissue donors," DMV Director George Valverde said. "Those ´pink dots´ are more than mere symbols; they have taken on the power of advanced directives for organ and tissue donation for any California motorist who proudly chooses to display them."
The vast majority of the registry´s three million designated donors have signed up since the DMV began enrolling designated donors in July 2006. Due to the five year license renewal cycle, two-thirds of California drivers have not yet had the opportunity to check ´yes´ when they renew their license, and state lawmakers urge individuals to do so.
"The registry´s core promise – to save lives by ensuring individuals´ wishes to donate are honored – is accomplishing its life-saving mission," Stewart said.
Donate Life California is a nonprofit, state-authorized organ and tissue donor registry, administered by California´s four nonprofit, federally designated organ procurement organizations, each responsible for facilitating the donation process in the state: California Transplant Donor Network, Golden State Donor Services, Lifesharing and OneLegacy.
