THE AMOBI OKOYE FOUNDATION PARTNERS WITH LIFEGIFT IN LIFESAVING MISSION

NFL Star Tackles the Need for More Donors in Texas

Source: The Cypress Times

HOUSTON, TX - In a league where making tackles on the field will get you a lot of recognition, there are some pretty big plays being made off the field, too. Sometimes winning off the field feels just as good, especially if it means saving lives. The Amobi Okoye Foundation recently announced that it will join the fight to promoting organ and tissue donation in the state of Texas.

Amobi Okoye, global philanthropist and defensive tackle for the Houston Texans, is the chairman for the The Amobi Okoye Foundation, which is the first professional athlete’s organization to become a Workplace Partner with LifeGift. The Workplace Partnership for Life initiative is spearheaded by the United States Department of Health and Human Services to increase donor awareness among corporations, hospitals and other entities. As a Workplace Partner, The Amobi Okoye Foundation will provide educational resources to its staff and encourage organ and tissue donation among its service community.

“My foundation is all about providing hope to children and communities all over the world,” said Okoye. “There is a lot to be done, and I am proud to take part in this lifesaving mission.”

Nationally, there are more than 110,000 men, women and children waiting for a lifesaving transplant. In Texas alone, there are nearly 11,000. Texas, although one of the most populous states in the country, ranks last nationally in terms of registered donors compared to other states.

“We are humbled by Amobi’s commitment to the cause and are confident that he will inspire others to register as donors,” said Sam Holtzman, president and CEO of LifeGift. “We are grateful to Amobi and his foundation for joining us as Workplace Partner and supporting us in our mission of saving lives.”

While the Glenda P. Dawson Donate Life – Texas Registry is gaining momentum and numbers have improved dramatically, less than 10 percent of Texans over the age of 18 are registered. Registering to become an organ, eye and tissue donor is simple. It’s free and it takes less than five minutes. There are three easy ways to register:

- Electronically via www.donatelifetexas.org.

- In person at the Department of Public Safety Office (DPS) or the DPS website.

- Online with the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) when renewing vehicle registration.

For more information about LifeGift and the registry, visit www.lifegift.org. For more information about the Texas Medical Center, visit www.tmc.edu.