Michigan, Ohio Residents are Winners in Wolverine vs. Buckeye Challenge for Life

An impressive 116,484 people joined the Michigan and Ohio organ donor registries through the annual Wolverine vs. Buckeye Challenge for Life (September 1 through November 19). This is a win for people everywhere who are awaiting an organ, tissue or cornea transplant.

In the competition, Ohio State University defeated the University of Michigan and Wolverine fans in a close contest. Some 52,678 Michigan residents showed their compassion by signing up on the state's donor registry during the Challenge for Life.  In Ohio, 63,806 heroes signed up to donate life.

Congratulations to Ohio State University fans for their dedication to saving and improving lives through organ, tissue and eye donation. Thank you to all the Wolverine fans and Michigan residents who demonstrated amazing generosity by signing up on the Michigan Organ Donor Registry!  It's never too late to join.

DONOR Sticker Becomes Permanent!

Effective December 1, 2009 , Secretary of State customers who are signed up on the Michigan Organ Donor Registry will have the red donor/heart logo printed on their standard driver’s license or State ID card, whenever a new card is generated. Customers who are not due for a new card will continue to receive a sticker, until the next time they’re due to receive a new card.

The red donor/heart emblem for standard driver’s license and State ID cards are located exactly where the stickers have been placed since 2007.

Residents on the Donor Registry with an enhanced driver’s license or ID card will continue to have the red donor/heart emblem in the lower right corner, as before.

The event was attended by more than 100 employees, donor family members, organ and tissue recipients and representatives from the Michigan Health & Hospital Association and the Michigan Eye-Bank.

Nearly 60 hospitals statewide also are flying or displaying “Donation Saves Lives” flags through April in hopes of encouraging more people to join the Michigan Organ Donor Registry.

“The need is immense in Michigan and across the nation as thousands of critically ill patients wait for life-saving organ transplants,” said Richard Pietroski, executive director of Gift of Life Michigan and a tissue recipient himself.

Volunteers sought to help in Metro Detroit

Through posters, motivational counter cards and materials, Gift of Life Michigan is encouraging customers at Secretary of State branch offices in Wayne and Oakland counties to tell the clerks they want to join the Michigan Organ Donor Registry.

Now, Gift of Life wants your help. On Wednesdays and Fridays in April and May, volunteers are needed at the Secretary of State branch offices to personally encourage customers to join the Donor Registry. Gift of Life will provide training, a polo shirt and handouts to people who volunteer for the federally funded "Tell Us Now" campaign. Click here to get more details about the "Tell Us Now" initiative, including information about a March 28 training, or contact Gift of Life Volunteer Coordinator Kim Zasa at kzasa@giftoflifemichigan.org.

The campaign has already produced 400 percent increases in donor registrations in other parts of the state. Please help us make it a similar success in Wayne and Oakland counties.

Hospitals across Michigan unite to fly Donate Life flag

Gift of Life Michigan, MHA Keystone: Gift of Life, the Michigan Eye-Bank and hospitals across the state have joined forces to promote organ, tissue and eye donation at their facilities in April by raising a Donate Life flag.

The initiative is part of a nationwide campaign to fly the Donate Life flag and to get more people to sign up on the Michigan Organ Donor Registry.

All hospitals and transplant centers are encouraged to participate. In addition, Gift of Life, MHA Keystone and the Michigan Eye-Bank will purchase flags for hospitals that agree to take part in the campaign.

Click here for an information sheet about the campaign.

Click here for a campaign participation order form.

Gift of Life announces 2008 Community Service and
Professional Service awards

Gift of Life presented its prestigious Community Service and Professional Service awards at the 37th annual Gift of Life Foundation meeting in Brighton, Mich., on Thursday, November 20, 2008.  These deserving award recipients all share a passionate desire to save and enhance lives through organ and tissue donation. 

Click here to read the full release.

18 Michigan hospitals receive Organ Donation Medal of Honor
from the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services

Nashville, Tennessee, October 24, 2008 - Eighteen Michigan hospitals and medical centers have been awarded Organ Donation Medals of Honor from the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services for their success in raising organ donation rates.

Click here to read the full release and see the list of winners.

Michigan Donor Drive launches
A new initiative to encourage hospital staff and their friends and family to sign up on the Michigan Organ Donor Registry is under way.

The Michigan Donor Drive debunks many of the myths surrounding organ donation. It is being led by Gift of Life Michigan, the Michigan Health & Hospital Association (MHA), the Secretary of State, the Michigan Eye-Bank and others. Although designed specifically for Michigan hospitals, the campaign has the potential to reach far beyond the medical community.

Here's what makes it special: The Michigan Donor Drive offers posters, e-Hearts, Web banners stickers and more designed by the national agency network, Campbell-Ewald, through its association with the University of Michigan Health System. The materials are all free and easy to use.

Learn more about the Michigan Donor Drive.

Best Practices, Best Results
hospital report

View the report.