CHICAGO (WREX) � In recognition of National Donate Life Month in April, the Illinois Secretary of State's office is collaborating with Illinois planetariums on a donor registration initiative.
This initiative aligns with a national campaign to increase the number of organ and tissue donors.
To support this effort, Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias announced special donor registration drives, called "SuperStar" events, to be held on April 8th during the Great North American Solar Eclipse.
“A single donor can save or improve the lives of as many as 25 people in need of a transplant,� Giannoulias said. “We need more ‘SuperStars� of all ages, ethnicities and racial backgrounds to register and fill the critical need for organ and tissue donors. A more diverse donor pool increases the likelihood of finding suitable matches for those who wait.�
"The Adler's mission is to connect people to the Universe and each other under the sky we all share,� said Jennifer Howell, director of Public Relations for the Adler. “In honor of those who are connected through organ donation, we are thrilled to partner with the Secretary of State for National Donate Life Month."
“Organ and tissue donation is a selfless decision that saves thousands of lives every year,� said Harry Wilkins, CEO of Gift of Hope, a federally designated procurement organization in Illinois. “All of us at Gift of Hope Organ and Tissue Donor Network are proud of our collaboration with the Illinois Secretary of State to encourage Illinoisans to register as donors, ensuring that we honor those decisions to save and heal as many lives as possible.�
The Illinois Secretary of State's office, Adler Planetarium in Chicago, and ¾ÅÓÎÌåÓý Illinois University Carbondale Planetarium will co-host sign-up events for the Illinois Organ/Tissue Donor Registry on April 8th during the solar eclipse.
Sign-up opportunities will also be available in person at various planetariums around the state throughout the month. Registration tables will be set up and regional coordinators will be present to answer questions on the following dates and locations:
- April 5 & 6: Illinois State University Planetarium, Normal
- April 8 & 14: Dome Planetarium, Peoria
- April 16: Herbert Trackman Planetarium at Joliet Junior College, Joliet.
The Illinois organ donor registry is one of the largest in the nation, with an average of 20,000 new registrants per month at Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) facilities.
There are currently approximately 6.5 million people registered as organ donors in Illinois.
Since the program's inception, there have been a total of 7.7 million registrations.
In 2023, there were 2,259 organ transplants performed in the state. Among those who donated organs and had a state ID or driver's license, 75% were registered donors.
However, there is still a significant need for organ donation.
Approximately 300 Illinois residents die each year while waiting for a transplant, and there are typically around 4,000 people on the waiting list at any given time.
April is recognized as National Donate Life Month.
During this month, there will be a statewide advertising campaign promoting organ and tissue donation, featuring the story of Tonisha Daniel.
Additionally, "Blue and Green Day" will be held on April 12th at DMVs across the state.
There will also be health fairs, donor registration drives, and visits to high school driver's education classes to educate 15 and 16-year-olds about organ donation before they receive their driver's licenses.
Illinois residents can visit to complete the registration card found in the donor brochure, call 800-210-2106, or visit a DMV in-person.
Any Illinoisan with either a valid Illinois driver's license or state ID card can sign up to become a donor.
