News and Updates

Donate Life America Thanks DMV Partners Across the Country: DMVs are the Key to Saving Lives

(Richmond, VA—September 23, 2019) Donate Life America (DLA) and Donate Life State Teams are dedicating the week of September 23-27, 2019, to saying thank you to Motor Vehicle Departments (DMVs) across the country for their commitment to asking the donor registration question to DMV customers every day. The vast majority of donor registrations in the U.S. come through DMV and driver’s license partner transactions. DMV offices and their employees play an invaluable role in increasing the number of registered organ, eye and tissue donors. Through their dedication to the Donate Life mission, DMV leadership and staff help save and heal lives.

National DMV Appreciation Week is a one-week celebration held each year in the last week of September. During this week, the Donate Life Community celebrates this vital partnership through local events and outreach expressing gratitude to DMV and driver’s license partner staff and leadership across the country.

Donate Life America will be celebrating National DMV Appreciation Week by recognizing the regional and national winners of the 2019 DLA DMV Awards. These awards recognize both statewide DMV office efforts and individual dedication to successfully increase donor registration. DLA is grateful for the commitment of the American Association of Motor Vehicle Administrators (AAMVA) as a national partner supporting the role of DMVs in offering the donor registration opportunity.

The DLA DMV Awards are presented annually at the AAMVA Regional and international conferences. For a full list of 2019 award winners, please visit DonateLife.net/DMV-Awards. Congratulations to all of the award winners – and thank you for your dedication to helping save and heal lives through organ, eye and tissue donation!

National DLA DMV Award Winners

DLA DMV Innovation Award: Jesse White, Secretary of State, Illinois

DLA DMV Lifesaver Award: Alicia Ortiz, Acting Director, and Jerry Valdez, Deputy Director Field Operations, New Mexico Motor Vehicle Division

Highest Donor Designation Rate* (DDR): Colorado 69.10%

Highest Increase in DDR: Arizona 11.90% (2018 vs. 2017)

To register your decision to be an organ, eye and tissue donor, please visit your local DMV or driver’s license partner office, or register online in the National Donate Life Registry at RegisterMe.org or in your iPhone Health App. To learn more about the DLA DMV partnership and National DMV Appreciation Week, please visit DonateLife.net/DMV. ###

About Donate Life America (DLA)

Donate Life America (DLA) is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization leading its national partners and Donate Life State Teams to increase the number of donated organs, eyes and tissues available to save and heal lives. DLA manages and promotes Donate Life℠, the national brand for the cause of donation; motivates the public to register as organ, eye and tissue donors; provides education about living donation; manages the National Donate Life Registry at RegisterMe.org; and develops and executes effective multi-media campaigns to promote donation.

*Donor Designation Rate (DDR): The Donor Designation Rate seeks to measure the percentage of individuals who say “Yes” to donation when given the opportunity during a motor vehicle department transaction.