Central Michigan University is partnering with Gift of Life Michigan to provide eligible employees with the option to join the statewide organ, eye and tissue registry.
"We are doing a small part to positively affect health outcomes in Michigan and beyond," CMU President Neil MacKinnon said Tuesday at a press conference. "I invite our CMU community to consider registering to become donors."
He says the partnership is a "first-of-its-kind," with CMU becoming the first university in the nation and first employer in the state to provide employees with this kind of seamless organ donation option. Faculty and staff will be provided with the option to become a donor on their benefits enrollment form.
"Right now in Michigan, there are 2,700 individuals who are waiting," said Dorrie Dils, president of Gift of Life Michigan. "Waiting for that life-changing gift that hopefully will come in time."
Erika Thomas, a second year student at Central Michigan, turned her grief into advocacy after her father passed away while he was waiting on a heart transplant in 2018.
Thomas started a student club at CMU with Gift of Life Michigan to bring more awareness about organ donation to college students and break down misconceptions around signing up to be on the registry.
At the press conference, Dils said Thomas will be recognized with an award given out each year by Gift of Life Michigan for an individual who's made a difference in people's life.
"I just know that my Dad would be really proud that I'm doing this all in his honor," Thomas said. "I couldn't be happier that this is all happening... I think that it will open eyes to those who may not know as much about organ donation."
April is National Donate Life Month.
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