HISPANIC HERITAGE MONTH
Observed annually from September 15 to October 15, National Hispanic Heritage Month is a time to celebrate and honor the generosity of Hispanic donors and their families. While we recognize and appreciate their contributions year-round, this month highlights the critical need for individuals from this diverse community to register as organ and tissue donors.
The importance of diversity and organ and tissue donation
Hispanic people make up about 19% of the U.S. population but face a disproportionately higher risk for diabetes, obesity, high blood pressure and other health conditions that could lead to heart disease and organ failure. Hispanics or Latinos are 1.3 times as likely as non-Hispanics/Latinos to develop kidney failure.
Every 8 minutes, another individual is added to the national transplant waiting list, while an average of 16 people die a day while waiting for a transplant.
Although organs are not matched according to race/ethnicity, and people of different races frequently match one another, all individuals waiting for an organ transplant will have a better chance of receiving one of it there are large numbers of donors from their racial/ethnic background. This means that greater donor diversity can help increase access to transplantation for everyone.
What Can You Do to Help?
Celebrate National Hispanic Heritage Month by registering as an organ and tissue a donor! It only takes a minute to register and one organ and tissue donor can save up to 8 lives and enhance the lives of over 75 others.
Celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month with us!
Honor a loved one on Día de los Muertos
On Friday, November 1 and Saturday, November 2, we will be celebrating Día de los Muertos with a special altar at our headquarters honoring loved ones who have passed. Photos and tribute messages will also be displayed on a special Día de los Muertos page on our website
To participate, please submit a photo of a loved one and a short tribute message using the form below by Wednesday, October 23rd. If you participated last year, your loved one will be honored again this year on our altar and website.
Photos of our altar will be posted on our social media pages on November 1. However, if you would like to view in person, you may visit our headquarters in New Providence on Friday, November 1 between 12pm-3pm.
Here is a sample post for social media:
🌟🎉 In honor of Hispanic Heritage Month, let’s celebrate the incredible strength of our community by giving the gift of life through organ donation! Register as an organ and tissue donor today at NJSharingNetwork.org/Register. 💙💚
Stories of Hope
Freddy Diaz Villa
Organ and Tissue Donor
“I had a dream about Freddy, and a feeling came over me that he wanted to give to others now that his time was done here on Earth,” said Lucy. “I am glad that I followed that feeling. I know it would make Freddy happy to know that he helped others.”
- Lucy Villa, Mother of Freddy
Read more Stories of Hope
A Gift of Life - A Story of Organ and Tissue Donation
Our Foundation is proud to have funded the recent publication of A Gift of Life - A Story of Organ and Tissue Donation by children's author Rachelle Burk, which follows a young boy after the loss of his father and his legacy as a hero through organ and tissue donation.
We are pleased to announce the book has now also been published in Spanish! Celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month by ordering the Spanish language version of this inspiring book today.
