July 22-26 has been declared as Tennessee County Clerk Organ Donor Awareness Foundation Appreciation Week.
Hamilton Clerk Bill Knowles, a founding member of the County Clerk’s Organ Donor Awareness Foundation, said, “I’m particularly proud of our local citizens who generously support organ and tissue donation. Also, thanks are in order to my staff for their continued efforts in promoting the Donate A Dollar campaign when motorists renew vehicle tags or apply for a title.
Our active support of the program has made Hamilton County a leader in the State for raising funds to promote awareness.
“The funds donated are vital to Donate Life Tennessee’s efforts to educate citizens on the importance of registering to be an organ and tissue donor. During this special emphasis transplant recipients and donor families will share their stories and express their thanks to County Clerks across the State for the important role they play in saving lives”.
Jill Grandas, executive director of Tennessee Donor Services said, “In 2018, Tennesseans saved 1,026 lives through organ transplantation and thousands more received life improving tissue transplants, In Hamilton County 30 people received a life-saving organ transplant. Today, over 2,900 Tennesseans are listed on the national organ transplant list waiting, including 77 citizens in Hamilton County.
“98% of the Tennesseans who have registered as organ and tissue donors have done so when receiving or renewing their driver licenses or state IDs at Driver Services Centers. Currently, over 2.3 million Tennesseans are registered on the state registry.
“The Donate Life Tennessee Registry is maintained by the state’s two organ procurement organizations, Tennessee Donor Services and the Mid-South Transplant Foundation. A critical part of their mission is to ensure Tennessee residents understand the importance of organ and tissue donation and provide them the information to register.
“We are extremely grateful to the Tennessee County Clerk Organ Donor Awareness Foundation. We cannot overstate the impact county clerks and their deputies have on saving the lives of people in Tennessee and across our nation.”