August is National Multicultural Awareness Month

National Multicultural Donor Awareness Month observed annually each August is a
collaborative initiative to save and improve the quality of life of diverse communities by creating a positive culture for organ, eye and tissue donation. This observance brings heightened awareness to donation and transplantation in multicultural communities – focusing upon African American/Black, Hispanic/Latinx, Asian Pacific Islander and American Indian/Alaskan Native communities.

National Multicultural Donor Awareness Month is focused upon outreach and education
including:

• Providing education about organ, eye and tissue donation and transplantation
• Encouraging donor registration and family conversations about donation
• Promoting healthy living and disease prevention to decrease the need for
transplantation

Individuals in our multicultural communities make up more than half of the transplant waiting
list. In contrast, a much smaller percentage register as donors or authorize donation for their
loved ones, whether it’s because of cultural barriers, religious beliefs, misperceptions or lack of
knowledge about the process.

“While the data shows that organs go to those in greatest need regardless of race, social and
healthcare, barriers still exist that prevent people from being offered the opportunity of
choosing to receive a transplant,” says LifeGift president and CEO Kevin Myer. “This is why
LifeGift takes an active role in educating all populations in our service regions. We can create
healthier communities through the generous gift of life and transplantation, an action that looks
beyond race and ethnicity to help those in greatest need.”

Please join us on Facebook, LinkedIn and Instagram to help us support our multicultural
communities while sharing the important message of organ, eye and tissue donation.