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.
2026 California Association for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance Conference – Kathy Vochoska (Living Donor, OneLegacy Ambassador), Lacey Felder (Senior Program Manager, Donate Life California), Theresita Gonzalez (Supervisor of Community Development at Donor Network West)
Each April, Donate Life Month gives us an opportunity to pause, reflect, and recognize the extraordinary generosity of donors, families, and advocates across California. It is a time to celebrate lives saved and transformed through organ, eye, and tissue donation.
It is also a time to look ahead with honesty and humility and consider the work that remains.
We all appreciate progress. Celebrating success helps us recognize the partnerships, community efforts, and individuals who move this mission forward. At the same time, organ donation carries a constant responsibility. Today, nearly 19,000 people in California are waiting for a life-saving transplant. They are the reason we come to work each day. They are the reason awareness cannot stop at one month.
We have made meaningful progress. Nearly half of Californians have registered their decision to become organ donors. Awareness continues to grow through community outreach, partnerships, and expanded education efforts. More families now authorize donation on behalf of their loved ones, even when a decision was not formally recorded.
We also see progress in the number of opportunities people have to engage with this topic. DMV interactions, tax return forms, and college campus outreach all create moments for people to reflect, ask questions, and start conversations.
This progress reflects a collective effort. Volunteers, ambassadors, educators, healthcare professionals, and community leaders all contribute. That is something to be proud of. It is also a reminder that the work is not finished.
Awareness alone does not lead to action.
While millions of Californians have registered, donor registration rates have started to decline. That trend tells us something important. Awareness does not always lead to understanding or trust.
Every community brings unique experiences, beliefs, and questions into this decision. Some individuals approach healthcare systems with caution. Others may rely on cultural perspectives, current events, or limited access to accurate information when forming their views.
We must acknowledge that we do not have all the answers. Recognizing this gap helps us move forward. It has led us to begin research across California to better understand attitudes, perceptions, and awareness around organ donation. Listening is essential if we want to build trust.
Trust grows through transparency, consistency, and respect.
At Donate Life California, we take that responsibility seriously. As the state-authorized nonprofit that manages the donor registry, we operate with the support of Californians who contribute through the DMV. That support carries a clear responsibility. We must provide accurate, accessible information and serve as a trusted resource.
Education must evolve as people and behaviors change. In the past, many individuals first learned about donation when applying for a driver’s license. Today, fewer young people go through that process. This shift requires new approaches. Expanding education through college campuses allows us to meet people at a different stage in life, when they are making independent decisions and planning for their future.
We also need to create space for conversation. Donation is a personal decision. People deserve time, information, and support as they consider what feels right for them. That may include talking with family, asking questions, or seeking out trusted sources.
Awareness does not end when April ends. It continues in classrooms, at kitchen tables, in community spaces, and in everyday moments where people learn and make decisions.
If you are considering a donation, you might start with a few simple questions:
Would I want someone to say yes for me if I needed a transplant?
Do I want to make this decision myself, or leave it to my family?
Have I shared my wishes with the people closest to me?
There is no single path to that decision. There is value in taking the time to understand it.
I continue to believe in the generosity of Californians and in our shared desire to care for one another. Awareness grows through conversation, and conversation starts with openness.
