Donate Life New York State (NYS) is rooting for your participation in our Donate Life Rx campaign this April.
Through your participation, our goal is to inspire New Yorkers to take action by enrolling as organ, eye, and tissue donors in the Donate Life Registry and financially supporting our mission to ensure a life-changing transplant for every New Yorker in need. As a trusted community leader, you play a vital role in helping nearly 8,000 New Yorkers waiting for a transplant. On behalf of the donation and transplant community, we extend our heartfelt gratitude for your lifesaving efforts through the Donate Life Rx campaign.
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.
Make National Donate Life Month Tree-Mendous!
Take a few moments to explore our sap-solutely incredible informational
toolkit and online resources. Here you will find social media posts and graphics, web banners, digital resources for TV and computer monitors, sample press releases, radio and TV scripts, on-hold and voice mail messages, and much more to organize your on-campus and community campaigns.
Thank you for your commitment to saving and healing lives!
Donate Life Rx Campaign Resources
Informational Toolkit
Make a Financial Contribution to Donate Life NYS
Participate in our Blue and Green Day Photo Contest
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.