A simple way to make a lasting difference: Become an organ donor
Most of us want to make the world a better place. Fortunately, there’s a simple, powerful way to do just that: becoming an organ donor.
That reminder feels especially meaningful as we observe National Donor Day each year on Feb. 14. Sharing the date with Valentine’s Day is fitting – choosing to be a donor is truly an act of heart. National Donor Day was established in 1998 by the Saturn Corporation and the United Auto Workers, with support from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. The observance highlights the life-changing importance of organ, eye, tissue, blood, platelet and marrow donation. It also honors those who have given or received the gift of life, those still waiting for a transplant, and those who sadly lost their lives while waiting.
The need is undeniable. More than 100,000 people in the United States are currently waiting for a life-saving transplant, with a new name added to the list every few minutes. Each day, lives are lost simply because the gift of donation did not arrive in time. Yet one organ donor can save up to eight lives and enhance the lives of many more through tissue and eye donation.
Jignesh Y. Sheth, M.D., MPH, FACP, is senior vice president and enterprise chief operations and strategy officer at The Wright Centers for Community Health and Graduate Medical Education. He is accepting adult patients at our Mid Valley community health center in Jermyn. Visit TheWrightCenter.org or call 570.230.0019 to make an appointment.
At The Wright Center, supporting donor awareness is part of our broader mission to improve the health and well-being of everyone we serve in Northeast Pennsylvania. We proudly support National Donor Day and Pennsylvania Donor Day, observed annually on Aug. 1, by helping raise awareness, encouraging informed conversations, and promoting actions that can lead to healthier communities and saved lives.
The U.S. Health Resources and Services Administration awarded The Wright Center a platinum ribbon for its advocacy efforts for the former DoNation Campaign, which encouraged workplaces of all sizes and industries to promote organ, eye, and tissue donation. The program helped nearly 700,000 people register as donors – expanding access to lifesaving transplants for countless individuals and families.
In Honesdale, we shared the story of a family’s quiet resilience and how it became a powerful reminder of what community and hope can achieve. When their young son was diagnosed with kidney failure, daily life quickly filled with hospital visits, dialysis schedules, and long, uncertain waits. Yet through it all, this family chose courage. Today, their son is back to doing what kids do best. Their story is a testament to the life-changing impact of organ donation and the extraordinary strength families discover when love, medicine, and community come together.
Pennsylvania Donor Day is the statewide effort that brings together health care organizations, advocates, and residents to also highlight the importance of participation across the Commonwealth. Pennsylvania residents who want to learn more can visit donatelifepa.org.
This work is supported through voluntary contributions made during driver’s license renewals, vehicle registrations, and state income tax filings. Those funds fuel the Governor Robert P. Casey Memorial Organ and Tissue Donation Awareness Trust Fund, which educates residents and helps increase donor registration statewide.
Registering as a donor is a personal decision and often requires thinking about difficult topics. That’s why it’s so important to talk openly with loved ones about your wishes, ensuring they are understood and honored when it matters most.
If you haven’t yet registered as a donor, I encourage you to give it serious consideration. It’s a small decision that can make an extraordinary difference – one that reflects compassion, generosity, and a commitment to improving the health of others, today and for generations to come.
