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"More people are giving the gift of life, helping thousands of Americans live longer and healthier," Secretary Thompson said. "But we need to do more to help those waiting for a lifesaving organ transplant. Now is the time to make a commitment to become an organ donor and to let your family and loved ones know so they can honor your wishes."

Joined by U.S. Olympic bronze medal winner and liver transplant recipient Chris Klug, Secretary Thompson released the 2001 donation statistics to mark National Organ and Tissue Donor Awareness Week and the first anniversary of HHS' Gift of Life Donation Initiative.

To date, more than 1,000 partners have joined the initiative's Workplace Partnership for Life, exceeding the project's one-year goal. Workplace partners raise awareness among their employees and members about the urgent need for donation. Partners include labor unions, corporations, nonprofit organizations, small businesses and others.

Klug, a snowboarder, won the bronze medal in the Men's Parallel Giant Slalom event at the Salt Lake City Winter Olympics in February -- just 18 months after he received a liver transplant.

"Transplantation has become mainstream medicine that leads to great quality of life for recipients," Klug said. "Every day, 114 individuals are added to the national waiting list for organs. I'm one of the lucky ones. I received a lifesaving liver from someone I never knew. Because of that generosity, I was able to represent America at the Salt Lake City Winter Olympics. I encourage everyone to commit to lifesaving donation and to talk to their families about their decision."

In 2001, a total of 12,522 people donated organs to others across the country, up from the 2000 total of 11,711. Hispanic donors increased to 1,492 in 2001, up nearly 14 percent from the previous year; while black donors increased 13 percent to 1,620.

Much of the overall increase in donors stems from the increase in "living donation," which occurs when a living person donates a kidney or a portion of their liver or lung to another. There were 6,445 such donors in 2001, up 12.5 percent from 5,726 in 2000.

Secretary Thompson launched the Gift of Life Donation Initiative in April 2001 to increase awareness among Americans about the urgent need for organ, tissue, marrow and blood donation. "Organ and tissue donation can save and enhance lives, but it won't happen without your support," Secretary Thompson said. "We need your help to create a donation friendly America."

The need is great for organ donors because organ transplants save and enhance lives. Bone grafts enable individuals to walk again while skin grafts save the lives of critically burned patients, and donated corneas prevent or correct blindness. Heart valves help repair critical cardiac defects. Today, more than 79,000 men, women and children wait for an organ transplant.

Also joining Secretary Thompson at today's announcement were Arthur Mayer Jr., national president of the ELKS; Derek Harps, vice president for not-for-profit banking at Allfirst Bank, Washington, D.C.; Clive Callender, M.D., founder and principal investigator of the National Minority Organ Tissue Transplant Education Program (MOTTEP); and Karen Garcia, chairperson of the Coalition on Donation's Hispanic Campaign Committee.

National Organ and Tissue Donor Awareness Week honors organ and tissue donors with events nationwide. More information about organ and tissue donation is available at www.organdonor.gov.

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