April is National Donate Life Month, and we’re thrilled to partner with you on this critically important annual observance. With nearly 8,000 New Yorkers awaiting organ transplants and around 300 losing their lives annually due to donor shortages, your participation is crucial. Despite New York’s high need for donors, only 52 percent of residents are registered – well below the national average of 64 percent.
2026 Donate Life Month Theme:
Leave a Legacy
This year’s Donate Life Month theme, “Leave a Legacy” uses trees as a symbol of life, connection, and hope. Like a tree that grows and stands for generations, a donor’s gift leaves a lasting legacy of hope and life.
Branch Out in Supporting Donate Life NYS!
- Tell friends and family they can enroll online in the New York State Donate Life Registry;
- Help us raise critical funds by making a financial contribution or holding a fundraiser benefitting Donate Life New York State;
- Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube, and LinkedIn. Share our posts through your own social media;
- Get the facts about organ and tissue donation, and share them with your family, friends, and colleagues.
- Share Stories of Hope, or tell us how your life has been touched by organ and tissue donation;
- Contact us to arrange a virtual Lunch & Learn for colleagues to educate them on donation and transplantation;
- And of course, let us know how you plan to celebrate Donate Life Month!
Donate Life Month Resources for Community Partners
Donate Life Month Informational Toolkit for Community Partners
Make a Financial Contribution to Donate Life NYS
2026 Donate Life Month
Calendar of Events
April 1, 2026: Donate Life Living Donor Day
Living Donor Day is a celebration during Donate Life Month that honors living organ and tissue donors for saving and healing lives! In 2025, more than 7,000 gave one of their kidneys or a part of their liver to someone waiting for a 2nd chance at life. Use #LivingDonorDay in your social media posts!
April 4 through April 11, 2026: Blue & Green Spirit Week
Each day of the week leading up to Donate Life Blue & Green Day is dedicated to a special theme, and will include: recognizing donors, volunteers and healthcare heroes; giving hope to those waiting; and engaging the public in fun activities.
April 4, 2026: Dress Up Your Pets
Get ready to unleash your furry friends’ style and show off their adorable blue and green flair for a good cause on Donate Life Dress Up Your Pets Day! Post pictures on our Facebook page or email to communications@dlnys.org.
April 5, 2026: Make Blue & Green Treats
Get creative in the kitchen and whip up delicious blue and green treats to celebrate April 5th’s ‘Make Blue & Green Treats’ day – a flavorful way to support a meaningful cause! Post pictures on our Facebook page or email to communications@dlnys.org.
April 6, 2026: Thank Your Healthcare Heroes
Visit our Facebook page and share a heartfelt message, expressing gratitude and appreciation for the unwavering dedication and tireless commitment of our healthcare heroes in keeping us safe and healthy.
April 7, 2026: Write a Message of Hope
Take a moment on this special day to visit our Facebook page and share a message of hope, spreading positivity and encouragement to uplift those in need of reassurance and support.
April 8, 2026: Donate Life Flag Raising Day
This simultaneous flag raising across the country provides an opportunity for all donation and transplantation partners to come together to honor deceased donors/donor families and living donors, and inspire others to register as a donor. Contact us to request a Donate Life flag for your business.
April 9, 2026: Create Donate Life Art
Get your paintbrushes ready to create Donate Life Art adorned in blue and green, then share your masterpieces on Facebook, spreading awareness for organ, eye, and tissue donation through vibrant art.
April 10, 2026: Donate Life Blue and Green Day
On Donate Life Blue & Green Day the public is encouraged to wear blue and green and to engage in sharing the Donate Life message and promoting the importance of registering as an organ, eye and tissue donor.
April 10 through 16, 2026: Donate Life Blue and Green Day Photo Contest!
Visit our Blue & Green Day Photo Contest page for more information!
April 11, 2026: Share Your Decision Day
On Share Your Decision Day, let your loved ones know – heck, tell the whole world – about your decision to save and heal lives as a registered organ, eye, and tissue donor. Sing it from the rooftops! Then encourage others to join you.
April 15, 2026: DMV
Appreciation Day
This day honors our dedicated DMV front-line staff who play a vital role by giving the public a chance to join the NYS Donate Life Registry, helping thousands of New Yorkers in need of transplants. So far, DMVs statewide have helped nearly 7 million New Yorkers enroll.
April 19 through April 25, 2026: National Pediatric Transplant
Week
National Pediatric Transplant Week takes place the last full week of National Donate Life Month in April. It focuses on the powerful message of ending the pediatric transplant waiting list. Throughout Pediatric Transplant Week, clinical partners share patient stories (candidates and recipients); donor families whose children have saved and healed lives through organ, eye, and tissue donation are honored; and recipient families share their thanks and milestone celebrations.
April 20-25, 2026: Volunteer Appreciation Week
This week honors our tireless volunteers who dedicate their time to promoting organ and tissue donation through public education, community events, and personal storytelling, acknowledging their invaluable contributions to the Donate Life mission.
April 30, 2026: Donor Remembrance Day
Join us to honor and celebrate who have given the gift of life through organ, eye, and
tissue donation.