Thanks to the efforts of our African-American Task Force, thousands of people are working to increase organ and tissue donation and transplantation in communities throughout Illinois and northwest Indiana. Follow the links below to see what the AATF is doing to help us carry out our mission. And what you can do to help.
Jack Lynch, Gift of Hope’s Director of Community Affairs, will be the guest of legendary radio host Herb Kent (right) for Battle of the Best at 5:30 p.m. Sunday, February 12, on V103 (AM radio). During their battle, Herb and Jack will promote the need for organ and tissue donation in the African-American community by getting listeners to vote for their favorite R&B artists. They also will encourage listeners to register as organ and tissue donors on the Gift of Hope Web site. In addition, commercials promoting donor registration will be aired on V103 (102.7 FM radio ) and streamed on v103.com throughout the program hour.
Educating the Public: Telling Your Donation Story
Sharing your personal experience with donation is among the best ways to illustrate the benefits of organ and tissue donation—especially if you’re a donor family member or transplant recipient. But what details should you share? And how should you organize your personal tale? We answer these and other questions for you in Educating the Public: Telling Your Donation Story, a tool to help you plan and guide your public education presentation to schools, churches, healthcare professionals and other community groups. Among the tips you’ll get:
- Share facts and figures to illustrate the need for donors. Refer to the statistics and information available to you at GiftofHope.org.
- Address the myths that stop people from choosing to donate.
- Make sure your audience knows how to become a donor by signing up at GiftofHope.org.
To learn more tips about how to make a winning public education presentation, download Educating the Public: Telling Your Donation Story.
National Minority Donor Awareness Day Observed
Locally, Statewide
August 1 marked the 15th anniversary of National Minority Donor Awareness Day, a special day set aside each year to call public attention to the critical need for people of African-American, Hispanic and other minority heritages to register as organ and tissue donors and share their decisions with their loved ones. Representatives from Gift of Hope, Donate Life Illinois and the City of Chicago observed National Minority Donor Awareness Day locally with a press conference and donation drive at Mount Sinai Hospital.
AATF Chapters Have Busy Summer
AATF chapters had a busy summer bringing the donation message to their local communities. The West Suburban and Chicago chapters headed to downtown Chicago and its western suburbs in July and August in their ongoing efforts to represent Gift of Hope and the AATF in the community. Meanwhile, working in partnership with local community organizations, the Central Illinois Chapter visited community events in 11 cities in Illinois and northwest Indiana to educate people about donation and encourage them to help save lives.
AATF Chapters Reach Out on Mother's Day
Throughout the year, our African-American Task Force coordinates “Organ Donor Sunday” events to honor donor families and encourage people to get involved with the community by taking part in efforts to promote organ and tissue donation. On Mother’s Day, several AATF chapters focused their efforts on faith-based outreach.
Central Illinois Chapter Spreads Donation Message During NDLM
Members of the AATF Central Illinois Chapter promoted National Donate Life Month in April by taking the organ and tissue donation message to the next generation of organ donors at Western Illinois University and to community residents in Peoria. The group hosted its first college registration event, distributed goody bags to public housing residents and held a Donor Awareness Day breakfast.
Organ and Tissue Donation: Dr. Lisa’s Interview
Dr. Lisa Thornton talks with Jack Lynch, Gift of Hope’s Director of Community Affairs about organ and tissue donation as part of the Walgreens Health Corner Television Series.
View their inspiring heart-to-heart
talk here.
