City of Long Beach, California Proclaims April as DMV / Donate Life Month

Left to right: Vice-Mayor Suja Lowenthal, Glenn Matsuki, OneLegacy; Linda MacPherson, Donate Life Ambassador

On Tuesday, April 5, Mayor Bob Foster, Vice-Mayor Suja Lowenthal and the City Council of Long Beach, California issued a proclamation designating the month of April 2011 as DMV / Donate Life Month. During this month, city leadership urge all Long Beach citizens to sign up as organ, eye and tissue donors, to inform their family of their decision and to help raise awareness of the important need for organ, eye and tissue donation in our community.

Every day, 18 of the more than 110,000 Americans awaiting an organ transplant will die before they receive a second chance at life. Nearly 8,000 people living in the Los Angeles, metropolitan area are currently waiting for a life-saving organ transplant, and thousands more need a tissue transplant this year. During Donate Life Month, we honor our City’s organ, eye and tissue donors and their families, whose decision to share the gift of life through America's donor programs serves as a positive example for all our citizens.

Californians can make their donation decision by designating donation on their driver’s license or signing up at www.DonateLifeCalifornia.org, and discussing their choice with their family.