“We must remember that one determined person can make a significant difference and that a small group of determined people can change the course of history.”
– Sonia Johnson

The purpose of this program, which is endorsed by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, is to raise public awareness about transplantation and, most important, the critical need for donated organs, eyes and tissues.

The New York Organ Donor Network invites religious leaders and congregants to celebrate the miracle of organ, eye and tissue donation and transplantation during the 13th Annual National Donor Sabbath taking place in November 2008

We urge all houses of worship to encourage greater understanding about donation, and to help to increase enrollments in the New York State Donate Life Donor Registry.

To coincide with the holiday season, National Donor Sabbath is celebrated throughout the month of November (and even into December, the holiday season, depending on the needs of specific houses of worship).

Your participation in this program will demonstrate your support for the 7,000 patients in the greater New York metropolitan area who are currently awaiting life-saving organ transplants. Thousands more need eyes or tissue such as bone, skin and heart-valves.

Although all major religions support organ, eye and tissue donation, many individuals do not enroll in the New York State Donate Life Registry; likewise, too many families do not consent because they believe their religion does not support donation.

On this Donor Sabbath, we hope to get the word out about donation. We hope that you will help us in our life-saving and most reverent of missions.

To find out more about National Donor Sabbath, contact Karen Cummings at 646-291-4454 or e-mail her at kcumming@nyodn.org.