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National Donate Life Month
April 1 – April 30
An entire month honoring those who saved lives through the gift of organ, eye, and tissue donation.
Each year during the month of April, Donate Life New York State (NYS) celebrates National Donate Life Month, raising awareness of the lifesaving impact of organ, eye, and tissue donors, and honoring those who have saved lives through the gift of donation. Throughout the month, we join donation advocates across the nation to remind the public that we all have the power to save lives by registering as organ, eye and tissue donors. We also focus efforts on raising critical funds to continue helping those in need of lifesaving transplants
2023 Donate Life Month Theme: Make A Splash!
The theme of 2023’s Donate Life Month, “Make a Splash,” was inspired by the natural world of a pond coming to life in the spring. Frogs and toads are a sign of healing and renewal, and water lilies represent hope. The lily pads we see on the surface of a pond are part of a much larger plant rooted below the water. The water lily plant reminds us of the support and collaboration needed for hope to bloom.
As a friend and supporter of Donate Life NYS, you play a significant role in our interconnected effort to save lives by making the community aware of the opportunity to “hop to it” and register their decision to be an organ, eye, and tissue donor. On behalf of New York’s donation and transplant community, we thank you for the lifesaving work you do every day!
Make Donate Life Month Un-frog-ettable
- 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 Resource Centers
Resource Center for County Clerks and DMVs
Resource Center for Community Partners (Businesses and Organizations)
Calendar of Events
April 5, 2023: Donate Life Living Donor Day
Donate Life Living Donor Day is a celebration during National Donate Life Month that honors living organ and tissue donors for saving and healing lives! In 2021, more than 6,500 people made the decision to give one of their kidneys or a part of their liver to someone waiting for a second chance at life. Use hashtag #LivingDonorDay in your social media posts!
April 8 through April 14, 2023: Blue & Green Spirit Week
April 8: Volunteer Appreciation Day
April 9: Create Donate Life Rocks
April 10: Donate Life Flag Raising Day
April 11: Send a Message of Hope & Thanks
April 12: Thank Your Healthcare Heroes
April 13: Donate Life Chalk
April 14: Donate Life Blue & Green Day – On 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. It is also the day we kick off our annual photo contest!
April 14, 2023: Blue & Green Day Landmark Lighting
Each year on Blue & Green Day, landmarks throughout NYS are lit blue and green to raise awareness of the Donate Life mission. This year, the following landmarks will shine blue and green the night of April 14th:
- 1 World Trade Center
- Governor Mario M. Cuomo Bridge
- Kosciuszko Bridge
- The H. Carl McCall SUNY Building
- State Education Building
- Alfred E. Smith State Office Building
- Empire State Plaza
- State Fairgrounds – Main Gate & Expo Center
- Grand Central Terminal – Pershing Square Viaduct
- Albany International Airport Gateway
- Fairport Lift Bridge over the Erie Canal
April 14 through April 16, 2023: Blue & Green Photo Contest
Photo Submission Period: Friday April 14, 2023 through Sunday April 16, 2023
All photos must be posted by 11:59 p.m. ET. on Sunday, April 16, 2023. Please make sure to submit original photos – no collages, borders, or filters.
Visit Donate Life NYS’ Facebook page and add your best blue & green photo in the comments of the pinned post.
Categories include:
- Adults & Families
- Clinical Partners
- DMV
- Food & Art
- Groups and Communities
- Home & Garden
- Kids & Teens
- Pets
Voting Period: Community Choice Award
Vote by liking your favorite photos submitted for the contest until Thursday, April 20th, 2023 at 11:59 pm ET. The photo with the most likes will be the Community Choice Award winner and receive a $50 Amazon Gift Card!
Top Five Photos to National Photo Contest
The five photos with the most likes will be summited to the national photo contest held by Donate Life America for a chance to win a $100 gift card!
April 23 through April 29, 2023: 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.