TAMPA – (July 23, 2021) – LifeLink® is thrilled to announce that 190 local hospitals have earned platinum level recognition for their work and dedication in support of organ, eye and tissue donation through the Workplace Partnership for Life (WPFL) Hospital Organ Donation Campaign. The WPFL is a national initiative that unites the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), and the organ donation community with workplaces across the nation in spreading the importance of donation and increasing organ, eye and tissue donor registrations.

Between October 2020 and April 2021, hospitals across the country partnered with their local organ procurement organization to “let life bloom” by educating hospital staff, patients, visitors and surrounding communities about the critical need for organ, eye and tissue donation and by offering the opportunity to register as a donor.

In the LifeLink of Florida, LifeLink of Georgia and LifeLink of Puerto Rico service areas, 40, 92 and 58 small and large hospitals, respectively, participated in the program and LifeLink supported them throughout the campaign with virtual plans, donation materials and educational opportunities. This challenge was tackled while the nation’s health care community continued to face unprecedented changes and challenges related to COVID-19, and to celebrate this extraordinary effort the HRSA Division of Transplantation recognized all hospital partner participants at the platinum level.

Across the county over 107,000 individuals are waiting for a lifesaving transplant and 5,200 of those people live in the state of Florida, 5,200 in Georgia and 300 in Puerto Rico. Unfortunately, every day in the United States 17 people pass away because an organ was not available in time. During the national campaign 1,647 organizations  participated and helped add 27,386 new donors to state registries across the country. Since its inception in 2011, the campaign has generated 575,000 registrations.

LifeLink appreciates the dedication and support from all our local hospitals to help save lives through organ and tissue donation and thanks those that have achieved the HRSA WPFL platinum award this year. For the thousands of patients listed a transplant in our areas, this program provides a second chance and hope for a longer life. Registering to become a donor is easy and only takes a few minutes. LifeLink inspires the public to register and share their donation decision online or when obtaining or renewing a driver license. For more information about the Hospital Campaign and how your hospital or organization can get involved visit www.organdonor.gov/hospitals or click the yellow “Say “Yes: Today” button to the right to register today as a donor.

Local Hospital Platinum Award Recognition

LifeLink® Foundation is a non-profit community service organization dedicated to the recovery of organs and tissues for transplantation therapy operating in Georgia, Puerto Rico and southwest Florida. LifeLink can be of assistance with scheduling virtual interviews or webinar presentations to media outlets, local schools, civic groups and businesses on the importance of donation; for more information on LifeLink, or to register as an organ and tissue donor, visit www.LifeLinkFoundation.org.