It’s National Organ Donor Awareness Month; How Employers Can Help

    April is National Organ Donor Awareness Month.  It’s also National Minority Health Month, National Financial Literacy Month, Keep America Beautiful Month, School Library Media Month, National Poetry Month and National Alcohol Awareness Month.  That’s not all, there are more worthy causes vying for our attention and support this month and every month.  Employers can provide a valuable link to organ and tissue donation information, awareness and involvement.  Many government and non-profit agencies make it easy to take these steps as a good corporate citizen.

     As the child of a transplant recipient I’m drawn to stories about successful organ transplants.  While reading one of these stories in my local paper about how a Kidney Transplant Recipient Gives Back I learned about the US Department of Health and Human Services’ Workplace Partnership for Life Campaign.  This national effort provides assistance and materials that employers can use to help increase awareness about organ donation as an informational campaign or in partnership with another organization.

     The United Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS) a non-profit, scientific and educational organization that administers the nation's only Organ Procurement and Transplantation Network tracks and keeps records of transplant needs.  As of April 15, 2008 there were 98,802 people on waiting lists for organ transplants. The Workplace Partnership for Life Campaign includes free information and donor cards.  The information can be disseminated this month and again during open enrollment or any time employees update life insurance and 401(k) beneficiaries.  A list of workplace partners can be found on the site. 

     Once you have communicated this important information don’t be surprised if you hear about an organ transplant success story about a friend or family member of one of your employees.  It’s an easy, minimal cost way for employers to share information in the community.  Tell your local newspaper about the campaign and bask in the positive press you will receive.