Kingston, N.Y. – Ulster County Executive Mike Hein and County Clerk Nina Postupack joined together to recognize April as Donate Life Month and encourage residents to sign up to be an organ donor. Donate Life Month is a month-long observance aimed at raising public awareness of the critical need for organ, eye, and tissue donations. In the United States, an estimated 115,000 people are waiting for lifesaving transplants with New Yorkers comprising nearly 10% of that list. Every 10 minutes a person is added to the organ donation waiting list. On average, 22 people die every day in the United States from causes that could have been treated with a donated organ. Tissue donated by one person can positively impact the lives of more than 50 other people and each organ donor can save as many as 8 lives.
Mike Hein, Ulster County Executive
“Becoming an organ donor is an extraordinary opportunity to help save a life,” said Ulster County Executive Mike Hein. “I would like to thank those who have already enrolled in the Donate Life Registry to become a donor and encourage others to do the same. The Ulster County Clerk’s Office and Department of Motor Vehicles are working hard to make the public aware of the Registry and necessity of organ donation.”
Nina Postupack, Ulster County Clerk
“The Ulster County DMV office will be encouraging residents to learn more about organ, eye, and tissue donation and the impact it has on thousands of New Yorkers. To increase participation in the program, the Ulster County Clerk’s Office will be hosting an information table in the lobby of the Kingston DMV office located at 244 Fair Street on Friday, April 13, 2018 from 10:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. Promotional items and light refreshments will be available to the public. “When you make the choice to become an organ donor you are giving the gift of life,” says Nina Postupack, Ulster County Clerk. “Through our DMV, we can bring awareness to this incredibly worthy cause”.
Butch Dener, Organ Donation Recipient
“As a recipient of an organ donation, I am living proof of the effectiveness of this life-saving program,” said Butch Dener, an advocate for Donate Life. “I would like to thank Ulster County Executive Mike Hein and County Clerk Nina Postupack for helping to make the public aware of the Donate Life Registry”.
Enrolling in the Donate Life Registry is a way to ensure that an individual’s wishes about donation will be known at the time of their death. Residents can enroll at the Ulster County Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) office in Kingston, or via the Mobile DMV Bus which travels throughout the County by signing the organ donor consent certification on their driver license, renewal or non-driver identification card application. Once enrolled, a symbol of a red heart and the words "Organ Donor" will be printed on the front of your driver license or non-driver identification card at no extra cost.
Additionally, residents can show their support for organ and tissue donation by purchasing a “Life-Pass It On” custom license plate from the Kingston DMV. They can also show support by making a voluntary $1 contribution to organ transplant research, education, and donation promotion projects by checking off the box on their drivers’ license or non-driver identification application or renewal form.
For more information on this event or other DMV related matters, please contact Nina Postupack, Ulster County Clerk at 845-340-3040.
Pictured above: (from left): Ulster County Clerk Nina Postupack, Butch Dener, and Ulster County Executive Mike Hein
