Secretary of State Terri Lynn Land today announced that the Department of State, Gift of Life Michigan and Michigan Eye-Bank are ready to kick off their annual organ, tissue and eye donor campaign in April.

There's only one question remaining.

Is there a heart sticker on your driver's license or state identification card?

That question forms the crux of this year's campaign, which encourages residents to "show their hearts" by adding their names to the Michigan Organ Donor Registry. Those who have already signed up received a donor sticker with a heart logo for the front of their license.

"We want residents to check their licenses or IDs for that heart sticker," Land said. "If they don't have one, they need to sign up. Every name on the registry is a ray of hope to each of the more than 3,000 Michigan residents waiting for a transplant."

April is designated as "Donate Life Month" nationally and in Michigan. Land and officials from Gift of Life Michigan and Michigan Eye-Bank will bring their lifesaving message to a news conference at 9 a.m. on Monday, April 6 at Sparrow Hospital in Lansing. Those whose lives have been touched by organ donation will share their stories.

On Wednesday, April 8, Secretary of State offices will host Buddy Day from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. "Buddies" are Gift of Life Michigan and Lions Club volunteers who promote the importance of organ, tissue and eye donation. Many of the Buddies are organ and tissue recipients or members of donor families.

Land added that age and existing health conditions shouldn't deter anyone from adding their name to the donor registry. A transplant physician will evaluate organs and tissues for their suitability at donation.

There are 1.5 million names on the Michigan Organ Donor Registry.

"Currently, only about 15 percent of Michigan's population is on the donor registry," Land said. "I encourage everyone to help us launch April as Donate Life Month by signing up to be an organ and tissue donor."

Gift of Life Michigan is the state's federally certified, full-service organ recovery organization. The agency acts as an intermediary between donors, physicians, hospital staff and transplant centers. For more information about organ and tissue donation, contact Gift of Life Michigan at (800) 482-4881 or www.giftoflifemichigan.org.

The Michigan Eye-Bank's mission is the restoration of sight. It recovers, evaluates and distributes corneas for transplantation, supports eye and vision research and offers public and professional education on the importance of eye, organ and tissue donation. To learn more, call (800) 247-7250 or visit the organization's Web site at www.michiganeyebank.org.

For more information about the department's organ donation initiatives, visit its Web site at www.Michigan.gov/sos