Recognizing April as National Donate Life Month and highlighting the critical need for organ donation through the work of the Gift of Life Donor Program.

Recognizing April as National Donate Life Month and highlighting the critical need for organ donation through the work of the Gift of Life Donor Program. WHEREAS, Established in 2003, National Donate Life Month (NDLM), led by Donate Life America and its partner organizations, raises awareness about organ, eye, and tissue donation and encourages Americans to register as donors; and WHEREAS, NDLM is observed each April to honor those who have saved lives through the gift of donation, recognize the continued need for donors, and inspire individuals to make the selfless decision to register as organ and tissue donors; and WHEREAS, The need for organ donors remains a critical public health issue, with more than 5,600 people dying each year while awaiting an organ transplant, and more than 90,000 people nationwide are currently waiting for a kidney transplant alone, including approximately 1,113 residents of the City of Philadelphia; and WHEREAS, Philadelphia, a minority-majority City, faces stark disparities in organ transplantation, with more than 80% of those awaiting a transplant being people of color, including more than 70% who are Black residents, highlighting the urgent need for greater awareness, education, and action; and WHEREAS, For over 50 years, the Gift of Life Donor Program has played a critical role in coordinating organ and tissue donation, working with 124 acute care hospitals and 12 transplant centers, as well as hundreds of transplant centers nationwide; and WH…