April is National Donate Life Month! Throughout the month we celebrate the many lives that have been saved and healed by the gift of life; participate in local, regional, and national activities to increase awareness for organ donation; and inspire others to register as organ, eye, and tissue donors.

This year’s theme revolves around the image of a rainbow and Maya Angelou’s quote, “Be a rainbow in someone else’s cloud.” Donate Life America explains how they arrived at this theme:

“Often following a storm, the presence of a rainbow provides optimism and motivates us to endure through dark times. Similarly, organ, eye and tissue donation is the bridge of comfort and hope between one family’s mourning and another’s healing — turning tragedy into renewed life.”

Organ, eye, and tissue donation truly provides a light that breaks through darkness. With April right around the corner, we encourage you to think about how you can join the national campaign to inspire others to register. Donate Life America provides a variety of resources that make it easy to spread the word, including web banners, social media posts, and flyers. All of which are quick and easy ways to promote National Donate Life Month on your own social media pages and within your community. You can find these resources at www.donatelife.net/ndlm.

Though Friday the 13th is usually represented by fear and superstition, this year it also marks National Donate Life Blue and Green Day. Help brighten the day by sporting your favorite blue and green attire and post your pics to our Facebook page with #BlueandGreenDay and we might give you a shout out on our profiles! You can find resources for blue and green day at www.donatelife.net/blue-green-day.

As part of our effort to celebrate the lives of organ, eye, and tissue donors during National Donate Life Month, we will be holding our annual Governor’s Gift of Life Award Ceremony (GOLA) at the Washington and Montana State Capitals, respectively. The Gift of Life Award was implemented to recognize and honor organ donors throughout the two states who have given others a second chance at life. Every year we invite organ donor families from the previous year to attend the ceremony with the Governor to honor their loved one’s gift.

We wish you a Happy National Donate Life Month. Thank you for your efforts in advocating for donation and the sharing the importance of registering your decision to be an organ, eye and tissue donor!

For more information about organ donation and Donate Life Month please visit www.lcnw.org and www.donatelife.net.