DEC. 1, 2011

Registry numbers increase 56% over last year in November

LANSING, Mich. -- Michigan's organ donor numbers took a dramatic leap in November, with a 56 percent increase over November 2010, Secretary of State Ruth Johnson announced today.

In November, 37,388 people signed up on the Michigan Organ Donor Registry, up from the 23,979 who did so in the same month last year. So far this year, there have been more than 362,000 registrations -- already well past 2010's record total of 319,000.

"For the thousands of patients on transplant waiting lists in Michigan, increasing the number of registered donors means improving the odds they will receive the lifesaving operation they need and have more time with their families." Johnson said. "This holiday season, I encourage all residents to give the gift of life."

Johnson and her staff have worked closely with Gift of Life Michigan, the Michigan Eye-Bank and other advocates to raise awareness of the need for organ, tissue and cornea donation, and to let people know how easy and meaningful it is to register as a donor.

Since taking office, Johnson has made expanding Michigan's organ donor list a priority. The state's national ranking among other states for organ donor registrations, was 44th at the end of 2010. Michigan began 2011 with fewer than 27 percent of adults on the donor registry, but is now up to nearly 32 percent and continues to narrow the gap as it approaches the national average of 42 percent.

"These continuous increases demonstrate the generosity of the citizens of Michigan and the commitment of the Secretary of State and donation partners to save and improve lives," said Richard Pietroski, CEO of Gift of Life Michigan, the state's organ and tissue recovery organization. "Together, we are making a difference."

"The growing number of Michigan residents joining the donor registry is a real testament to the power of the human spirit," said Lisa Langley, executive director of the Michigan Eye-Bank. "The dramatic boosts in the donor registry give real hope to the people relying on these gifts for renewed and improved sight, life and mobility. We thank the citizens who made the decision to join and thank the Secretary of State for providing an easy avenue for these decisions to be made."

Tim Davidson, of Highland, who last month celebrated the third anniversary of his liver transplant, welcomed the latest good news for those awaiting transplants, as he once was.

"It's exciting to know that more people will have an opportunity to get a second chance at life like I did," Davidson said. "Joining the donor registry is an ultimate, random act of kindness. You don't know who may benefit from your gift, but you do it. I think of it as unconditional love for your fellow man."

As part of her "Restart the Heart" campaign, Johnson launched a new policy this year, directing branch office employees to ask customers, time permitting, if they wanted to sign up on Michigan's Organ Donor Registry.

She also put organ donor reminders on the most widely used forms at Secretary of State branch offices, created an advisory task force comprised of organ donor leaders, recipients and lawmakers, and put social media like Facebook and Twitter to work to encourage Michigan residents to sign up as potential donors.

Hundreds of new donors are signing up each week when asked as part of transactions on www.ExpressSOS.com, the Secretary of State's new online services system.

Anyone, of any age, can join the Michigan Organ Donor Registry for free at www.Michigan.gov/sos or by visiting any Secretary of State branch office. The oldest lung donor in the country was a 78-year-old from Michigan and the oldest tissue donor on record was 103. Those who sign up receive a heart logo sticker to place on their driver's license that indicates their wish to be an organ donor. A new card with a permanent heart emblem is issued at renewal time.

For more information about branch office locations, hours and services, visit www.michigan.gov/sos and sign up for official Secretary of State Twitter feeds at www.twitter.com/Michsos and Facebook updates at www.facebook.com/Michigansos. Customers also may call the Department of State Information Center to speak to a customer service representative at 888-SOS-MICH (767-6424).

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For media questions, please call Gisgie Dávila Gendreau at 517-373-2520.