Welcome to Gift of Life Michigan’s Press Room where you can find the latest news in Michigan about organ, eye and tissue donation and transplantation. We’ve made recent statistics and facts about donation available as well as suggested terminology for your reports.

Most importantly, we can help connect you with medical experts, transplant recipients and/or family members of organ and tissue donors to interview for your story or segment.
 

Latest Press Releases

• Donor Drive 2010 sees early results
• Campus Challenge adds 2,063 names to Donor Registry
• Michigan colleges compete to save lives
• Portraits of three Michigan organ donors decorate Pasadena float

Donation Facts

• Of the state's 10 million residents, about 1.7 million are registered organ donors.
• Since 2007, residents no longer sign the back of their Michigan driver’s license to indicate their wish to be an organ and tissue donor. Instead, they join the Michigan Organ Donor Registry and receive a red heart logo for their license or state ID.
• More than 200,000 people joined the Michigan Organ Donor Registry in 2009. Gift of Life Michigan is trying to register one million new potential donors in 2010 - in hopes of saving more lives.
• In 2008, Michigan had a record 327 organ donors, who gave about 900 organs to those on the waiting list.
• In 2008, the Michigan Eye-Bank provided 1,199 corneas to recipients.
• On average, 17 Michigan residents have organ transplants every week.
• The supply of organs available doesn't come close to meeting the demand. This state has about 3,000 people on the waiting list. That number is 100,000 nationwide.
• Organ donors can save up to eight lives and tissue donors can substantially improve life for up to 50 sick or injured people.

Donation and Transplantation Terminology

As a matter of accuracy, clarity and respect for organ donors and their families, there are several words and phrases that are better choices when reporting about organ donation and transplantation. The word "harvest," in particular, is considered harsh and not completely accurate. Organ "recovery" is widely used nationwide.
> Please click here for more terminology suggestions.

Religious Views on Donation

People often wonder how their religion views organ donation. Most major faiths approve and, in fact, consider it an act of good will and generosity. > Read the complete list of religions and their specific viewpoints here.

Media Inquiries

Email Tim Makinen, director of Corporate Communications. Tim also can be reached by calling 734.922.6055 (office) or 517.896.5780 (cell). Email Betsy Miner-Swartz, communications specialist. Betsy also can be reached by calling 734.922.1086 (office) or 517.285.8628 (cell)
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