Dental College of Georgia to host minority organ and tissue donation information event

The Dental College of Georgia will host an informational event with LifeLink of Georgia from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Aug. 23 in the DCG Lobby to raise awareness about minority organ and tissue donation.

August is National Minority Donor Awareness Month, which aims to create a positive culture for organ, eye and tissue donation and improve the quality of life for diverse communities. Transplants can be successful regardless of the ethnicity of the donor and recipient, but the chance of longer-term survival may be greater if the donor and recipient are closely matched in terms of their shared genetic background.

One organ and tissue donor can save or improve the lives of up to 75 people. Currently, 60 percent of the more than 100,000 people on the national transplant waitlist are people of color.

At the Aug. 23 event, you can learn more about how you can help save lives by becoming an organ and tissue donor. You can also meet recipients who have been impacted by life-saving donations, pick up swag and sign up to be a donor.

LifeLink of Georgia is the federally designated organ and tissue recovery organization for the state of Georgia. You can register to be an organ and tissue donor in several ways:

• Register to #BeAGift as an organ and tissue donor through the LifeLink Foundation.
• Register with the Department of Driver Services when obtaining or renewing a driver’s license or identification card.
• Register with the Department of Natural Resources when obtaining a hunting, fishing or trapping license.

For more information, please visit LifeLinkFoundation.org or call 800-544-6667.