Author Archives: Lacey Wood

10 Aug

Recent national news coverage and ongoing discussions about the organ donation and transplantation system have prompted understandable questions from many Californians. We welcome those questions and believe that open, honest conversations are essential to maintaining public trust.

Donate Life California is the state’s official nonprofit donor registry, authorized by the State of California to provide a secure and confidential way for individuals to document their decision about organ, eye, and tissue donation. Our responsibility is to ensure that every Californian has access to accurate information and that each person’s legally documented decision is honored.

Public trust is the foundation of donation and transplantation. We believe transparency, accountability, and continuous improvement are essential to maintaining that trust. As the donation and transplantation community continues to evolve, we support efforts that strengthen the system while honoring the generosity of donors, recipients, living donors, and their families.

Every donation story is deeply personal. Behind every decision are individuals and families navigating moments of hope, loss, and healing. We remain committed to providing factual information that helps Californians make informed decisions that reflect their own values and wishes.

More than 20 million Californians have said “Yes” to organ, eye, and tissue donation. Whether someone chooses to say “Yes” or “No,” Donate Life California believes every person deserves accurate information, the opportunity to make an informed choice, and the confidence that their decision will be respected.

We remain committed to serving Californians with integrity, transparency, and compassion while working every day to support a trusted and accountable donation system.

31 Jul

By
Lacey Wood

in
News Uncategorized

A New Chapter for Donate Life California

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.

15 Jul

By
Lacey Wood

in
CEO Blog

20 Million Californians Have Said YES to Organ, Eye, and Tissue Donation — Twenty Million Is a Milestone, Not Our Finish Line

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.