Organ donation is the process of giving an organ or a part of an organ for the purpose of transplantation into another person. Organ donations can come from both deceased and living donors.

• A deceased donor can give kidneys, pancreas, liver, lungs, heart, and intestinal organs
• A living donor can give a kidney, or a portion of the liver, lung, intestine, or pancreas

Although there have been advances in medical technology and donation, the demand for organ, eye and tissue donation still vastly exceeds the number of donors.

• More than 100, 000 men, women, and children currently need life-saving organ transplants
• Every 11 minutes another name is added to the national organ transplant waiting list
• An everage of 18 people die each day from the lack of available organs for transplant
• In 2008, there were 7,984 deceased organ donors and 6,218 living organ donors resulting in 27,961 organ transplants.
• According to research, 98% of all adults have heard about organ donation and 86% have heard of tissue donation.
• 90% of Americans say they support donation, but only 30% know the essential steps to take to be a donor.