National Donate Life Month, 2011

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Title 3--
The President

Proclamation 8642 of March 31, 2011

National Donate Life Month, 2011

By the President of the United States of America

A Proclamation

Americans have always been a generous people, willing
to give to others in need. In these challenging times,
that spirit of service has been abundantly evident and
has made a real difference in many lives. As we observe
National Donate Life Month, we reflect on an important
opportunity to aid others--bestowing the gift of life
through organ and tissue donation.

More than 110,000 individuals are now on the national
waiting list for organ transplants, and the list
continues to grow. Each year, the number of Americans
needing life-saving donations has far outstripped the
number of available donors. As a result, people lose
their lives each day while waiting.

When each donation can touch dozens of lives, it has
never been more important to make the decision to be an
organ and tissue donor. I encourage all Americans to
say yes to donation by giving blood regularly and
joining their State-based donor registry. Individuals
can register online or through the registration or
renewal process for a driver's license or
identification card. When considering organ donation,
Americans should consult their family members, doctor,
or faith leader about the decision to donate life. To
find out more about donation and how you can register
in your State, be sure to visit: www.OrganDonor.gov.

Together, we can all make the choice to save and
improve the lives of Americans across our country.

NOW, THEREFORE, I, BARACK OBAMA, President of the
United States of America, by virtue of the authority
vested in me by the Constitution and the laws of the
United States, do hereby proclaim April 2011 as
National Donate Life Month. I call upon health care
professionals, volunteers, educators, government
agencies, faith-based and community groups, and private
organizations to join forces to boost the number of
organ and tissue donors throughout our Nation.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this
thirty-first day of March, in the year of our Lord two
thousand eleven, and of the Independence of the United
States of America the two hundred and thirty-fifth.