GENESEO, N.Y., April 10, 2025 – The Livingston County Board of Supervisors has named April 2025 as Donate Life Month in an effort to increase the number of organ, eye and tissue donors in the County.
In support, the County Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) has joined with Donate Life New York State in observance of National Donate Life Month to celebrate and promote the lifesaving impact made by organ, eye and tissue donors. County officials gathered with representatives from the Finger Lakes Donor Recovery Network yesterday to promote organ donation and raise the Donate Life flag inside the County’s DMV office at exactly 1:08 p.m. The time highlights how one organ donor can save up to eight lives through their donation.
“You never know when someone in your family or that you know may find themselves in need of an organ donor to continue living,” said Acting County Clerk Kristine Secor. “I encourage everyone in the County to consider making this life-saving choice and signing up to become an organ donor today.”
Donate Life NYS is a statewide non-profit organization dedicated to increasing organ, eye and tissue donation in New York State through collaborative advocacy, education, research and promotion. The theme of 2025’s Donate Life Month, “Let Life Sing,” was inspired by bird songs, which represent new beginnings and hope, as well as the return of loved ones through the gift of donation. New and current organ donors visiting the DMV will have the option to place a songbird with their name on the Donate Life tree.
Elizabeth Moreland is a hospital and community development associate with the Finger Lakes Donor Recovery Network. She said more than 800 people in the Finger Lakes region are currently on wait lists for organ donation.
“They wake up every day hoping this might be the one, but sadly, many of them aren’t going to get a donation,” she said. “My aunt was waiting for an organ and she didn’t receive one in time. She did become an eye and tissue donor so that gave a lot of comfort. It instilled a passion in me for organ donation because I knew what it was like to feel that need.”
There are currently more than 7,900 New Yorkers waiting for life-saving transplants across the state. In 2024, 377 patients died while awaiting an organ transplant in New York because the organ needed to save their lives was not donated in time.
Lynn Kennison, a Finger Lakes Donor Recovery Network volunteer, was on hand at the DMV to offer educational materials and promote the need for more organ donors. Kennison said as the recipient of an organ donation herself, the cause is one she feels passionate about supporting.
“I received a kidney from a living donor that saved my life,” she said. “I’ve met a lot of organ donors, as well as organ recipients who’ve received deceased donor kidneys. Some of them have waited 16 years to finally receive them.”
Secor said beyond becoming an organ donor, residents can help by making a voluntary $1 contribution to organ transplant research, education and donation promotion projects by checking off the donation box when applying for or renewing their driver license, learner permit, or non-driver ID. They can also contribute by purchasing a “Life… Pass It On” custom license plate at any DMV. She encouraged all residents sign up to become an organ donor today by visiting the state registry at https://donatelife.ny.gov/, or at any of the County’s DMV offices.
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About Livingston County:
Founded in 1821, Livingston County, N.Y., is home to more than 61,000 residents in 17 towns located across 631 square miles of the Finger Lakes region.