National Donor Sabbath is part of a donation initiative launched by the United States Department of Health and Human Services in 1997. Observed on Friday through Sunday two weekends before Thanksgiving, the national designation consolidated the individual donation efforts of many faith communities into a national effort for all faiths who wish to participate. The three day observance seeks to include the days of worship of major religions practiced in the United States.

Donation and transplant professionals join faith communities to focus on the lifesaving and enhancing gifts passed to others through organ, tissue and blood stem cell donation. Faith leaders, donor families, and transplant recipients participate in services and programs to increase awareness of donation and transplantation. Those who donate heal and strengthen not just their recipients, but families, friends, and the larger community.

Many people turn to their faith leaders for help when dealing with life and death issues. Nearly every religion in the United States officially supports organ and tissue donation or supports the individual choices of its members. Donation is viewed by most religions as an act of compassion and generosity, and National Donor Sabbath is celebrated in many houses of worship, often with a transplant recipient sharing a personal story of receiving “a second chance at life.”

Awareness of donation increases each year, but so does the need for donors. More than 105,000 people were on the organ transplant waiting list as of January 2010 despite the fact that more than 14,000 donors made almost 28,000 transplants possible in 2008. Each year, thousands of Americans need corneal or other tissue transplants, and an average of 3,000 individuals at any given time are searching for an unrelated blood stem cell donor. Those who donate organs, tissue, and blood stem cells restore hope and share gifts beyond measure. Transplantation can save lives. If generous individuals and families say yes to donation and register as donors, miracles can happen…

A young woman who received a heart transplant at age 9 now elects college courses that will support her goal of becoming a pediatric cardiologist.
A woman in her 60’s received the gift of a liver from a man who died just a few days before his 93rd birthday
Donated tissue allowed a world class martial arts medalist to receive an allograft, return to competition, and win two world championships.
A Flamenco dancer who received a double lung transplant continues to teach children to dance and performed his thanks to his donor at the Federal government’s National Donor Recognition Ceremony in July 2009.

Faith communities and individuals wishing to plan National Donor Sabbath events should contact their local organ procurement organization or Donate Life America chapter.

National Donor Sabbath Materials are available and include a brochure, created as a resource to help faith leaders educate their congregations about organ donation, lapel pins, and general donation information materials.

> Donor Sabbath Materials

For National Donor Sabbath information, contact: Division of Transplantation: 301-443-7577

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