LITTLE ROCK, Ark., April 1, 2022: ARORA, Arkansas’ largest organ and tissue recovery agency, is celebrating National Donate Life Month across the state in April, honoring those who have restored lives through the generous gift of donation and also encouraging individuals to consider registering to become organ, tissue and eye donors. 

National Donate Life Month 2022 is themed “Bee A Donor,” inspired by bees’ powerful role in sustaining life. Bees represent a ​​vital force, working together with dedication, collaboration, and a strong sense of community, just like registered organ and tissue donors, transplant recipients, and their families. 

“Registering to become a donor is simple, and it’s the gift of a lifetime,” said Mark Tudor, president and chief executive officer of ARORA. “It gives hope to the more than 100,000 Americans, including more than 300 Arkansans, who are waiting on life-saving transplants.”

In honor of Donate Life Month, ARORA has commissioned a public art display that will be exhibited in spaces throughout the state during the month of April.The display comprises 107 bees in honor of the 107 donors of life-saving organs and the 557 donors of life-restoring tissues in Arkansas. Each “swarm” exhibit will include a QR code linked to ARORA’s website, where unregistered Arkansans can easily register online.

“Our mission of Donate Life Month 2022 is to register more donors in our state to offer life-saving organs to the thousands on the national transplant waiting list, 300 of whom are Arkansans,” said Tudor. “We’ve seen the impact that donation has on organ recipients, which gives them a chance for renewed health and more time to spend with their loved ones.”

The displays will be installed at the following locations: 

  • The Arts & Science Center for Southeast Arkansas, Pine Bluff
  • Fort Smith Regional Art Museum, Fort Smith
  • Pinnacle Hills Promenade, Rogers
  • Pleasant Ridge Town Center, Little Rock
  • Razorback Greenway Trailhead, Springdale
  • South Arkansas Arts Center, El Dorado
  • Springdale Public Library, Springdale
  • UALR Windgate Center of Art + Design, Little Rock
  • Wildwood Park for the Arts, Little Rock

Pieces in the art installation were created by award-winning Arkansas-based artist Virmarie DePoyster. Her work is currently displayed in private and public collections, along with numerous group and solo exhibitions throughout the United States and internationally.

“With this piece, I celebrate the gift of life that donors provide and the hope they bring to others,” said DePoyster. “I was so honored when asked to help bring about awareness of organ donation in Arkansas. We have family and friends who have received the gift of life via an organ donor and the results were transformative.” 

National Donate Life Month was established in 2003 by Donate Life America to help raise awareness about the impact of registering as an organ and tissue donor, and to honor those who have saved lives through the gift of donation. 

 

ARORA also will celebrate other National Donate Life Month events:

  • Living Donor Day ‒ April 6: Recognizing living donors for their life-saving generosity.
  • Blue & Green Spirit Week he to the itinApril 16-22: Each day of the week leading up to National Donate Life, Blue & Green Day is dedicated to a special theme and will include recognition of donors, volunteers and healthcare heroes; giving hope to those waiting; and engaging the public in fun, at-home activities.
  • National Donate Life Blue & Green Day – April 22: The public is encouraged to wear blue and green and to promote the importance of registering as an organ, tissue and eye donor. 
  • National Pediatric Transplant Week ‒ April 24-30: National Pediatric Transplant Week focuses on the powerful message of ending the need for the pediatric transplant waiting list.

Many Arkansans are aware that they can register to become an organ and tissue donor when renewing their driver’s licenses at the DMV. A trip to the DMV doesn’t happen every day, of course. Arkansans can also conveniently register online at www.arora.org/donatelife from their laptop or other internet-accessible device. And for an even faster registration experience, they can go to www.arora.org/kiosks to locate one of ARORA’s “swipe-to-register” kiosks. All that’s needed is an Arkansas driver’s license or state ID card.

For more information about organ and tissue donation, ARORA, and its National Donate Life Month events, go to www.arora.org/dlm or follow ARORA on Facebook and Instagram. 

 

FACTS & STATISTICS
Arkansas statistics: 

  • Roughly 300 Arkansans are on the organ transplant waiting list
  • 64 percent of eligible Arkansas residents are registered as organ donors, the 16th highest registration rate in the nation
  • In 2021 ARORA recovered for transplant a record number of organs –more than 300– a testament to the generosity of Arkansans. 

U.S. statistics: 

  • Another person is added to the nation’s organ transplant waiting list every 10 minutes.
  • One organ donor can save eight lives, as there are eight transplantable organs.
  • In 2020, more than 39,000 transplants brought renewed life to patients, their families and communities (from nearly 12,600 deceased and nearly 5,750 living donors).
  • 7,000 people die each year (on average 20 people each day — almost one person each hour) because the organs they need are not donated in time.

About ARORA
ARORA was established in 1987 as a nonprofit, independent organ procurement agency. Serving 64 counties across the state, ARORA is headquartered in Little Rock and has a satellite office in northwest Arkansas. ARORA’s mission is to restore lives through the recovery of organs and tissues for transplant. 

About National Donate Life Month
National Donate Life Month (NDLM) was established by the nonprofit Donate Life America and its partnering organizations in 2003. Observed in April each year, National Donate Life Month helps to encourage Americans to register as organ, tissue, and eye donors and to honor those that have saved lives through the gift of donation.