Saratoga County Announces Start of Donate Life Month: Initiative Aims to Encourage Organ Donation Enrollment

BALLSTON SPA — Saratoga County Clerk Craig A. Hayner announced the kickoff of a month-long initiative to encourage residents to register as organ donors when they visit any of the three Saratoga County Department of Motor Vehicles locations.

The Saratoga County DMV is teaming up with Donate Life New York State in observance of National Donate Life Month, celebrating the lifesaving impact made by organ, eye, and tissue donors.

Donate Life NYS is the statewide nonprofit organization whose mission is to increase organ, eye and tissue donation in New York State through collaborative advocacy, education, research, and promotion.

While more than 3,500 lifesaving organ transplants were performed in the state last year, nearly 8,000 New Yorkers remain on the national organ transplant waitlist. In 2023, approximately 400 patients awaiting an organ transplant in New York State died because the organ needed to save their lives was not donated in time.

Saratoga County’s enrollment has increased steadily in the years since the County DMV began promoting Donate Life Month in 2014. According to the most recent statistics from Donate Life NYS, at the end of 2023, 71% of the eligible population in Saratoga County was enrolled in the registry. This reflects a steady uptick in donor registry enrollment in Saratoga County, rising from 39% in 2013 to about 54% in 2018 and over 61% in 2020.

All New Yorkers aged 16 and older can enroll in the New York State Donor Registry, regardless of their medical history. The enrollment option is available on forms used to apply for or renew a driver’s license or non-driver identification card. New Yorkers can also enroll in the registry while applying for health insurance through the New York State of Health and on voter registration forms. In addition, online enrollment is available at any time at donatelife.ny.gov/register.

Additionally, New Yorkers can show their support for organ and tissue donation by purchasing a “Life-Pass It On” custom license plate from the DMV or making a voluntary $1 contribution to organ transplant research, education and donation promotion projects by checking off the box when applying for or renewing their driver license, learner permit, or non-driver ID.