Mayor Domenic J. Sarno once again joined with Matt Boger from New England Donor Services, State Representative Carlos Gonzalez, Registry of Motor Vehicle officials, and local individuals touched by organ donation on Wednesday, February 14, 2024 at City Hall to recognize National Donor Day and the tremendous impact that donors have on our community. Representatives from State Representative Orlando Ramos’ office and State Senator Jake Olivera’s office were also in attendance.
Mayor Sarno himself is registered as an organ donor too. He stated, “You can help someone and a family feel better and/or save someone’s life – you can’t put a price tag on that! Thank you to all those who shared their touching stories and are helping educate us about organ donation and what it has meant to you. I am proud to have the heart symbol on my driver’s license as a registered organ donor. I know that it is more likely that me, or someone in family, will need an organ transplant in our lives than provide one. It is a small act to register and it costs nothing, but it can mean the world to an individual who is on that waiting list or their family who knows each moment together is precious. I encourage everyone to learn more about organ donation and get registered. Spread the love!”
National Donor Day is recognized on Valentine’s Day and is marked as a day of caring and sharing your heart with others. It is a time to honor those who have donated organs and recognize the incredible impact of their life-saving gifts. At today’s ceremony, a local individual Hal Etkin joined with his donor’s father to share how important organ donation is to both of them. Richard Teehan traveled from Plymouth, MA today to share how his son’s heart lives on in Hal and how meaningful his decision to be an organ donor has been to so many. Many individuals, both organ recipients, families of those who have donated, and those who are on the waiting list joined today at City Hall to speak on the critical importance of organ donation.
The vast majority of individuals in Massachusetts who register as an organ and tissue donor do so at the state Registry of Motor Vehicles (RMV). When you register in MA, you get a heart symbol on your driver’s license/ID/REAL ID to indicate an organ donor. Learn more about organ donation and how to register at mass.gov/OrganDonor
In New England in 2023, 549 deceased donors donated organs resulting in 1,401 life-saving transplants. This record level of clinical activity places New England Donor Services among the nation’s top 4 organ procurement organizations by donor volume.
New England Donor Services is the parent organization of New England Organ Bank, the federally-designated Organ Procurement Organization (OPO) responsible for coordinating organ and tissue donation in the six New England States. Get the facts about organ donation registration.
