National Multiethnic Donor Awareness Month (NMDAM) is a collaborative initiative of the National (Organ, Eye and Tissue Donation) Multicultural Action Group (NMAG) to save and improve the quality of life of diverse communities by creating a positive culture for organ, eye, and tissue donation.

NMDAM stems from National Minority Donor Awareness Week, founded in 1966 by the National Minority Organ Tissue Transplant Education Program (MOTTEP), to bring heightened awareness to donation and transplantation in multicultural communities – focusing primarily on African American, Hispanic, Latino, Asian, Pacific Islander, and Native American communities.

During NMDAM, LifeLink will highlight the need for more organ, eye and tissue donors within multicultural communities, provide donation education, encourage donor registration, and promote healthy living and disease prevention to decrease the need for transplantation. Individuals interested in celebrating this month are encouraged to follow LifeLink on social media to participate in the education programs offered. 

Did You Know? 

• Multicultural communities make up about 60% of the U.S. transplant waiting list with African Americans and Hispanics being in the highest need. 
• Transplants can be successful regardless of ethnicity of the donor and recipient. However, the chance of longer-term survival may be greater if donor and recipient share similar genetics. 
• Minorities often experience higher rates of diabetes, high blood pressure, and heart disease which can contribute to organ failure, especially kidney failure. 
• African Americans are 3 times more likely to suffer from kidney failure than Caucasians. Hispanic Americans are 1.5 times more likely than non-Hispanics to have kidney failure. 

How to Celebrate National Multiethnic Donor Awareness Month (NMDAM): 

1. Give hope and save lives by registering your donation decision at MyStoryContinues.com or when renewing or obtaining a driver's license. 
2. Share your donation decision with family and friends. 
3. Share information about NMDAM on your social media. Download our social media post to share with your followers.  
4. Learn more about donation and healthy living with LifeLink during the month of August.

NMDAM is a collaborative initiative of Donate Life America (DLA), Association for Multicultural Affairs in Transplantation (AMAT), Association of Organ Procurement Organizations (AOPO), The Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), National Minority Organ Tissue Transplant Education Program (MOTTEP) and National Kidney Foundation (NKF) to save and improve the quality of life of diverse communities by creating a positive culture for organ, eye, and tissue donation.