WHEREAS, National Donate Life Month was instituted by Donate Life America and its partnership organizations in 2003, and is recognized annually in April to promote a greater understanding about the lifesaving benefits of organ, eye, and tissue donation and to help celebrate those who have saved lives through the gift of donation; and
WHEREAS, an average of 113 transplants take place every day in the United States, but another person is added to the waiting list every 10 minutes, and an average of 22 die every day because a transplant did not become available in time; and
WHEREAS, more than 106,000 people are waiting for an organ transplant in the United States today, including over 3,200 North Carolinians; and
WHEREAS, in 2021, North Carolina transplant centers facilitated 1,351 lifesaving organ transplants, with 1,188 deceased donors and 163 living donors; and
WHEREAS, Donate Life NC and the NC Division of Motor Vehicles have worked in partnership for fifteen years to offer the red heart as a legally authorization for organ, eye and tissue donation; and
WHEREAS, the State of North Carolina is committed to supporting all of its citizens in leading healthy, productive, and successful lives, and encourages residents to consider giving the precious gift of life by becoming registered organ, eye, and tissue donors;
NOW, THEREFORE, I, ROY COOPER, Governor of the State of North Carolina, do hereby proclaim April, 2022, as “DONATE LIFE MONTH” in North Carolina, and commend its observance to all citizens.