In celebration of April’s National Donation Life Month, President Trump urges willing Americans to become organ, tissue, and eye donors.
President Trump proclaimed that during National Donate Life Month, we celebrate these heroes and the life-giving impact of their precious gift.
“Americans demonstrate their compassion in countless ways, perhaps none more selfless or vital than organ donations,” Trump wrote on April 3 in the proclamation. “More than 170 million people in the United States have made the decision to become donors, and for that, my Administration is grateful.”
Trump said Americans saved and extended nearly 50,000 lives through organ donations and transplantations.
“Every life is precious, and each new donor can offer the gift of life to 8 souls while also enhancing the lives of 75 others who are battling chronic diseases, blindness, severe burns, and trauma,” Trump said.
Trump said that there are more than 103,000 men, women, and children on the national transplant waiting list, clinging to hope and longing for a miracle.
According to the Florida House of Representatives, there is a shortage of organ and tissue donors in Florida.
“A new name is added every 8 minutes,” Trump said. “Tragically, 17 people lose their lives each day while waiting for a transplant, highlighting the urgent need for more registered donors.”
HRSA stated in their Organ Donation Statistics that there are currently over 103,000 people on the national transplant waiting list.
According to data from the Health Resources and Services Administration, organ donor donations in Florida peaked at 1,057 in 2023 and decreased to 883 in 2024.
Trump said anyone eligible, regardless of age or medical history, has the ability to sign up to be an organ donor. He said to enroll, visit your state registry, the Department of Motor Vehicles, or www.organdonor.gov.
Another way to combat this shortage is by Central Floridians registering to become organ, tissue, and eye donors is with Donate Life Florida.
According to DLF, Florida’s organ, tissue, and eye donor registry is named after Joshua Abbott, a recipient of a lung transplant who passed away in 2006. DLF stated that Abbott’s story was so moving to the Florida legislature that, in 2009, Florida’s Agency for Health Care Administration chose Donate Life Florida to create a statewide donor registry to increase registry enrollment and educate Floridians about donation.
DLF is a non-profit 501(C)3 charitable organization. Established in 1997 as Florida Coalition on Donation, Inc., Donate Life Florida is dedicated to motivating Floridians to designate themselves as organ, tissue, and eye donors so lives are saved and enhanced through donation and transplantation.
“Today, more than 5,000 patients listed at Florida transplant centers await lifesaving organ transplants,” said the organization. “Many of these individuals may get a second chance at life due to the generosity of those who designate themselves as organ, tissue, and eye donors on Florida’s organ and tissue donor registry.”
DLF stated that registering to be a donor, your data is stored in a secure database, and when the times comes for your body to be donates, the record of your donor designation will be made available to your family so they may relieved of making the decision on your behalf.
Trump said throughout this month, we honor the selfless donors who generously give life to others and celebrate the beneficiaries who receive health and healing.
“The First Lady and I pray for all who await a transplant with anticipation and hope,” Trump said.
