CEO Blog : Celebrating Summer & the Gift of Life
Everyone knows Californians love our summers. Whether we’re heading to the beach, taking a hike, or hitting the ballpark we’re celebrating the gift of life. All of us within the donation community know how important that gift is, the lives it can change, and the importance of celebrating life.
This summer, the Donate Life California team has been working hard to ensure our mission to save lives by increasing opportunities for Californians to join the organ, eye and tissue registry. It’s been a balance of hard work and a lot of fun as we help increase access to the gift of life.
Donate Life Califonia Finds A New Home in the Capital Region
Our team has recently marked the one year anniversary of moving the organization to the capital area in West Sacramento. With our offices being located near the Capitol, we have seen a great advantage in our legislative efforts for 2018 and in building the necessary relationships needed to protect and promote organ, eye and tissue donation.
The summer is also a busy time in the legislature. This year the Donate Life California team has been fighting to increase opportunities for Californians to give the gift of life by working on three pieces of legislation this year:
- AB 2096 which establishes Donate Life California as one of the organizations to which taxpayers may make donations on the Franchise Tax Boards personal income tax forms.
- AB 3211 which clarifies donation language used on the State’s template for Advanced Healthcare Directives.
- SB 987 which adds clarification language about organ, eye, and tissue donation to the DMV’s DL 44 Form.
Find out more about these bills within our recent legislative update.
The office move has also facilitated a continued close relationship with California DMV leadership, a critical partner in our registration of new donors across the state. Recently, we’ve seen significant gains of 25% over traditional donor registration rates which are mainly attributable to Real ID requirements and technology advancements at the DMV. These increases have been noted over the last 6 weeks and we are anticipating their continuance until much later in 2018.
We’re Already Getting Ready to Celebrate the Gift of Life at the Rose Parade!
You might not believe it, but the summer is a busy time in regards to the Donate Life Rose Parade Float. The float’s team is working hard to ensure we’re all up and running as decorating and events start in just a few months.
As a sponsor of the float, Donate Life California will soon be announcing our 2019 Floragraph honoree so keep an eye out!
After attending the event at the start of the year I can tell you, it is hard not to be moved to emotion when hearing the stories of donors and recipients, meeting their families, and understanding the sacrifices and resilience of all involved.
The event connects thousands of volunteer hours to our mission in the construction and decoration of the Float. Donors, donor families, and recipients are all honored in the process and convene in Pasadena to celebrate the gift of life provided by organ donation. I am humbled to know and to have met so many great people who choose to celebrate lives lost and the gift of time given through organ donation. I can’t think of a better community of which to be a part of. I’m happy to be able to participate in this event on an annual basis, allowing me to grow my circle of friends and realize the altruistic impact donors and donor families choose to make.
Donate Life Celebrates at Events Around the State
Summer is a busy time around the state for all our organ procurement organizations who’ve been putting on events to share the message of donation and celebrate the gift of life. There have been run/walk events, Donate Life Days at MLB Ballparks, and so much more.
Our team has been heading out to many of these events and hope you’ll join us at one near you in the future. Be sure to keep an eye out on our event calendar or your local OPO’s event page. We hope to see you at an event soon!
We have other irons in the fire, so to speak, so be sure to keep an eye out for our newsletters in your inbox and follow us on social media for more updates.
