March 22, 2004

Secretary of State Terri Lynn Land today announced that this year's Secretary of State Buddy Day will be celebrated Monday, April 12 to highlight the need for organ donors.

Buddy Day also coincides with Michigan Donate Life Month, which is observed in April. Gift of Life and Michigan Eye Bank volunteers, known as Buddies, will be in various branch offices from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on April 12 to distribute organ donor information. The majority of Buddies have either received a transplant or are waiting for one, or are the family and friends of a recipient or donor.

"Nearly 2,400 Michigan residents are waiting for an organ or tissue transplant, and nearly 10 will die each month because a donor was not found in time," Land said. "Buddy Day helps educate people about the need for organ donors and what they can do to make a difference. The answer is easy and within everyone's grasp - sign up on the organ donor registry."

This year about 100 branch offices will host Buddies to promote greater awareness of the need for organ, tissue and eye donation. All offices will have organ donor information on display.

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

Late last year the Secretary launched her "Be One-in-a-Million" campaign, setting her goal to increase the number of names on the organ donor registry to at least 1 million.

"Everyone in Michigan has the opportunity to be ‘one-in-a-million' by registering to be an organ donor," Land said. "Organ donation brings renewed hope to someone facing a life-threatening illness - it is the ultimate ‘gift of life.'"

Residents who will not be at a branch office on Buddy Day still have plenty of opportunities to enroll on the organ donor registry. The Secretary of State Web site makes registering easy with its online enrollment program 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.

Gift of Life Michigan is the state'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 Gift of Life Michigan at 1-800-482-4881.