Gift of Hope Sets Organ and Tissue Donation Records in 2015

ITASCA, IL--(Marketwired - Feb 1, 2016) - Gift of Hope Organ & Tissue Donor Network, the not-for-profit organization that coordinates organ and tissue donation and provides public education on donation in Illinois and northwest Indiana, helped save and enhance more lives through organ and tissue donation in 2015 than in any other year in its history.

During the year, 379 people became organ donors, resulting in 1,077 organs transplanted. More than 2,000 people became tissue donors in 2015. Gift of Hope is one of 58 organ procurement organizations in the United States. OPOs are responsible for coordinating the donation process and increasing the number of registered donors.

"These achievements underscore the remarkable dedication of Gift of Hope and its healthcare partners in their efforts to honor the decision to donate and bring lifesaving organs and tissue to people in need," said Kevin Cmunt, Gift of Hope President/CEO. "In 2015, we helped more people than ever before in our 29-year history and made a huge difference in the lives of many people. But none of this would have been possible without the selfless decisions made by individuals and family members to offer the gift of life to others through donation."

The decision to become an organ and tissue donor gives the precious gift of a new life. Organ and tissue transplant gives recipients a new chance to live healthy, productive, and normal lives and returns them to their families, friends and communities. The selfless decision to be an organ and tissue donor goes a long way. A single organ donor can save up to nine lives and, when combined with tissue donation, a single donor can save or improve the lives of more than 25 people. Nearly 5,200 people in Illinois are waiting for an organ transplant and 1,500 in Indiana. Thousands more will need tissue transplants at some point in their lives. Nationally, more than 120,000 men, women and children are awaiting organ transplants in the United States.

Register as a donor at GiftofHope.org and share your decision with your loved ones. 

About Gift of Hope Organ & Tissue Donor Network
Gift of Hope Organ & Tissue Donor Network is a not-for-profit organ procurement organization entrusted by the nation's healthcare system with coordinating organ and tissue donation and providing donor family services and public education in Illinois and northwest Indiana. Since 1986, it has coordinated donations that have saved the lives of more than 24,000 organ transplant recipients and improved the lives of hundreds of thousands of tissue transplant recipients. As one of 58 organ procurement organizations that make up the nation's organ and tissue donation system, Gift of Hope works with 180 hospitals and serves 12 million residents in its donation service area. For more information about Gift of Hope and organ and tissue donation, visit GiftofHope.org.