Assemblywoman Andrea K. Bailey (R,C-Geneseo) today stood alongside her Assembly colleagues and advocates to raise awareness for the critical need for organ donations across New York in honor of April being Donate Life Month. The effort comes as thousands of residents remain on transplant waiting lists, underscoring the importance of increasing donor registration statewide.

“Organ donation helps close the gap between those in need and available donors. There are nearly 8,000 New Yorkers awaiting life-saving organ transplants, and 785 of them have been waiting for more than five years,” said Bailey. “By registering as a donor, you have the power to save lives and give hope to families across our state.”

Bailey reaffirmed her commitment to supporting initiatives that promote donor awareness and education, noting that even a single donor can save eight lives and heal more through eye and tissue donation. She encouraged all New Yorkers to have conversations with their families about organ donation and to take the simple step of registering, helping to ensure that more lives can be saved in the future.

To register as an organ donor in New York, individuals must be 16 years of age or older, and there is no cost to sign up or participate in this lifesaving effort. More than 400 New Yorkers died in 2022 while waiting for a needed organ transplant, an outcome that could be reduced with increased donor participation. By choosing to register, individuals can play a direct role in saving lives and offering hope to those still waiting.