Today, we share our heartfelt gratitude and best wishes to our longtime CEO, Jim Martin, as he begins his well-earned retirement after more than 10 years of dedicated leadership at Donate Life California.
Jim’s commitment to advancing organ, eye, and tissue donation has helped strengthen our mission, grow partnerships across California, and inspire millions of Californians to say YES to donation. We thank him for his years of service and wish him every happiness in this next chapter.
As we look ahead, we are pleased to share that Dr. Janice Whaley, President of the Donate Life California Board of Directors, will serve as Interim CEO. We are grateful for her leadership during this transition and look forward to continuing our work together to honor donor heroes, support transplant recipients, and inspire more Californians to say YES to organ, eye, and tissue donation. As we move forward, we are excited to continue building on the strong foundation Jim helped create while advancing our mission throughout California.
California has reached an incredible milestone: 20 million Californians have said YES to organ, eye, and tissue donation. This achievement represents hope for thousands of people currently waiting for a lifesaving transplant.
As the state with the largest donor registry in the nation, this milestone reflects the true power of public education, a strong social media presence, meaningful community engagement, and strategic partnerships. Through ongoing advocacy, outreach, and collaboration, Donate Life California continues to inspire Californians to make informed decisions about donation.
We could not have reached 20 million without our long-standing partnership with the California Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV), which has accounted for approximately 99% of all donor registrations. For years, the DMV has made it easy for individuals to register in person at locations across the state, integrating the opportunity to say YES to donation into a simple, everyday process.
More recently, our partnership with the California Franchise Tax Board (FTB) has expanded opportunities for Californians to say YES to donation. This year, the FTB introduced a new “Check YES” option as part of the California state tax return filing process, giving Californians the opportunity to make their decision about organ, eye, and tissue donation while filing their taxes for the first time. This innovative approach made it easier and more convenient for people to say YES to donation, helping accelerate progress toward the 20 million milestone. In just six months, approximately 160,000 Californians checked YES to organ, eye, and tissue donation through this new initiative.
We are grateful to every Californian who has said YES to saving lives. This milestone is a testament to the power of compassion and community—two values that define our state.
We would like to extend our heartfelt thanks to our Organ Procurement Organization partners (Lifesharing, OneLegacy, Donor Network West, and Sierra Donor Services), as well as our community partners at the DMV and the FTB. Your continued collaboration has been instrumental in making this achievement possible.
We would also like to recognize Assemblywoman Jacqui Irwin (D–Thousand Oaks). In 2023, our mission to reach more Californians became a reality when she championed AB 1268, the law that streamlined the organ donor registration process through the FTB. By requiring the inclusion of the “Check YES” box on California state tax returns, this innovation has created a powerful new pathway for registration, helping connect more people in need of a lifesaving transplant with donors.
Assemblywoman Irwin recognized the urgency of this issue: more than 20,000 people in California are waiting for an organ transplant, often as their only chance at survival. She understood that this is not just a policy issue, but a critical public health need that demands action and awareness. We are deeply grateful for her commitment and partnership in advancing our mission: to save more lives.
SACRAMENTO, Calif. – In light of recent articles published by The New York Times and other media outlets, Donate Life California is reaffirming its commitment to serve the people of California with clear, accurate information about organ, eye, and tissue donation.
“Donation is a deeply personal decision,” said Jim Martin, Chief Executive Officer of Donate Life California. “Our role is to ensure every individual has access to the facts they need to make that decision with confidence and trust.”
Since the publication of the July 20 article by The New York Times, Donate Life California has experienced a significant increase in public inquiries and concerns. In just a few days, more than 2,500 individuals across California have removed themselves from the state’s organ donor registry—a sobering reminder of how misinformation can influence decisions with life-or-death consequences.
“The stories as reported do not reflect the work Californians organ procurement organizations do each day to honor donors and save lives,” Martin continued. “Key facts about donation procedures and safeguards were omitted, leading to public confusion and fear.”
Currently, more than 100,000 people in the United States are waiting for a life-saving transplant. Nearly 20,000 of them reside in California. Every person who unregisters as a donor represents a missed opportunity to save or heal lives.
The articles in question highlight donation after circulatory death (DCD), a carefully regulated medical practice rooted in ethical standards and clinical rigor. DCD allows more families to carry out their loved ones’ wishes and increases the chances of saving lives. Like all forms of donation, it is based on the foundation of informed authorization and governed by strict protocols.
“We support transparency and accountability in all aspects of our work, including in response to media coverage,” said Martin. “We welcome open dialogue and are here to answer questions about how donation works and how it saves lives.”
Donate Life California encourages members of the public with questions or concerns to visit www.donateLIFEcalifornia.org or contact the organization directly at info@donatelifecalifornia.org. For those seeking more information about DCD or the donation process in their region, a list of local Organ Procurement Organizations (OPOs) is available at: https://donatelifecalifornia.org/about-us/local-donation-resources.
“Organ donation is one of the most meaningful gifts a person can give,” said Martin. “As we navigate these conversations, we do so with a deep sense of responsibility to educate, advocate, and uplift the truth—because lives depend on it.”
Media Contact:
Jim Martin
CEO
Donate Life California
jim.martin@donatelifecalifornia.org
916-678-6044
