MARCH 24, 2003

Secretary of State Terri Lynn Land today announced Secretary of State Buddy Day will be celebrated Monday, April 7, to kick off April as Organ and Tissue Donor Awareness Month.

"Although we don't like to think about it, organ donation can affect us or a loved one at any given time, on any given day," said Secretary Land. "Each person who adds his or her name to the Gift of Life Organ and Tissue Donor Registry brings hope to almost 2,400 Michigan men, women and children waiting for a life-saving transplant. Even tissue transplants are vital for survival. Imagine what a cornea transplant means to someone who cannot see or how skin grafts can positively impact the life of someone who has been severely burned.

"I encourage you to join the thousands who have given hope or saved the life of another. Please give so others can live," Secretary Land said.

This year, nearly 100 branch offices will host Gift of Life "Buddies." Buddies are volunteers dedicated to promoting greater awareness of the need for organ, tissue, and eye donation. This year's Buddies have either received a transplant, are waiting for one, or, are a family member or friend of a recipient or donor.

Buddies will be in branch offices from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on April 7th -- to help distribute organ donor information including donor registry brochures, pencils, and other educational materials. Branch offices without Buddies will have organ donor information on display.

In addition to the Buddies visiting branch offices, Secretary Land will hold Buddy Day news conferences in Grand Rapids, Southfield, and Flint.

For more than a decade, the Secretary of State's Office has partnered with the Gift of Life to present Buddy Day. Residents who will not be at a branch office on Buddy Day still have plenty of opportunities to enroll on the Michigan Organ and Tissue Donor Registry.

The Secretary of State web site provides residents with the opportunity to register online at www.michigan.gov/sos. Additionally, enrollment cards are available at any branch office and are mailed with every driver's license and state identification card.

The Gift of Life Agency is Michigan's only certified, full-service organ recovery organization. The agency acts as an intermediary to provide educational resources about donation for donors, recipients, physicians, and hospital staff.

For more information about organ donation, contact the Gift of Life Agency at 1-800-482-4881.