fbpx

Contest on college campuses statewide aims to add 2,000 names to the Michigan Organ Donor Registry

Gift of Life Michigan logo

Ann Arbor – Putting school rivalries and competitive spirit to a new purpose, college students across the state are encouraging their peers, professors and local community members to sign up on the Michigan Organ Donor Registry.

During the six-week Gift of Life Campus Challenge, Michigan colleges and universities are competing to see which school can sign up the most people to the Donor Registry.

“Michigan college students are some of the most compassionate, generous supporters of organ, tissue and eye donation,” remarked Richard Pietroski, chief executive officer of Gift of Life Michigan. “With the high levels of energy and enthusiasm these young people bring to our life-saving cause, we know the Campus Challenge will be a success again this year.”

Since its inception in 2004, the Gift of Life Campus Challenge has inspired more than 31,000 people to join the state’s Donor Registry.

Participating colleges will encourage students, alumni and other supporters to sign up on the Donor Registry through social media, poster displays and at donor registry sign-up stations in student unions and athletic events.

Scores are shown in real time on Gift of Life Michigan’s website. Two trophies will be awarded at the end of the competition, one to the school with the most donor registrations and one to the school with the most registrations compared to student population. Wayne State University in Detroit and Siena Heights University in Adrian won the trophies in last year’s competition.

“Signing up on the Michigan Organ Donor Registry is an easy, quick way to give hope to the 3,400 residents of our state waiting for a life-saving organ transplant, and tens of thousands more who need cornea and tissue transplants to improve the quality of their lives,” Pietroski added. To sign up and credit your favorite school, visit GiftOfLifeMichigan.org/CampusChallenge, and select the school’s name from the drop-down menu provided.

The Gift of Life Campus Challenge is one of the most successful organ donation college outreach programs in the nation, and has been recognized by the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services for its exceptional results.

Gift of Life Michigan is the state’s federally designated organ and tissue recovery organization, which acts as intermediary between donors, their families and hospital staff. Gift of LifeMichigan, in collaboration with the Michigan Eye-Bank, provides all services necessary for organ, tissue and eye donation.

Read More Posts
Sara Schmidt, who became an organ donor, hugs her mother, Donna Ternes

Michigan woman pens book about daughter, organ donation

“But God” chronicles difficult life that led to a decision to save others Sara Schmidt’s…

Read More
Female doctor holding open chart looking at the camera

Donor Registry Awareness Bill introduced in Michigan

House Bill 4060 would increase awareness, provide education on organ and tissue donation State Reps….

Read More
Vickie Figeroa stands in front of several pews and stained glass windows

Heart recipient adopts second mission: Advocating for organ, tissue donation

“I always tell people to sign up,” Grosse Pointe Woods woman says Vickie Figueroa makes…

Read More
Blue, white and green infographic showing 2022: A Record Year with 463 organ donors and 1,821 tissue donors

Gift of Life Michigan sets record for organ, tissue donors in 2022

Gift of Life Michigan helped a record 463 people become organ donors and 1,821 give…

Read More
Portrait of Krishna and Pamela Sawhney

Bloomfield Hills couple pledges $125,000 to Gift of Life Michigan

Donation will support award-winning youth education program Pamela and Krishna Sawhney of Bloomfield Hills have…

Read More

Legislation prohibits discrimination in organ transplant system

HB 4762 protects disabled patients, helps save lives Legislation approved in the Michigan House of…

Read More
Scroll to Top