Gift of Hope pushes organ donation talks during Multiethnic Donor Awareness Month

Gift of Hope Organ & Tissue Donor Network is using National Multiethnic Donor Awareness Month to urge families in Illinois and northwest Indiana to discuss organ and tissue donation. The campaign comes as more than 108,000 people in the U.S. wait for a transplant, with nearly 60% from multicultural communities.

Why it matters: - More than 108,000 people in the United States are waiting for a lifesaving organ transplant. - Nearly 60% of those patients come from multicultural communities. - Gift of Hope says family conversations can help turn donation wishes into action and create a lasting legacy of hope.

What happened: - Gift of Hope Organ & Tissue Donor Network marked National Multiethnic Donor Awareness Month by urging communities to talk openly about organ and tissue donation. - The outreach focuses on families across Illinois and northwest Indiana. - Gift of Hope encouraged people to learn the facts, ask questions and discuss donation wishes with loved ones.

The details: - Gift of Hope works with donor families during some of the most difficult moments of their lives. - The organization says it uses compassion, transparency and respect to help families make informed decisions that reflect their beliefs, cultures and values. - Dr. Harry Wilkins, president and CEO of Gift of Hope, said these conversations can transform lives while honoring the wishes of loved ones. - Dr. Wilkins said each donor is a child, sibling, parent, partner or friend, and the organization aims to help families see how a loved one’s generosity can create hope for others. - Donors and recipients do not need to share the same racial or ethnic background. - A diverse donor registry increases the likelihood of finding compatible matches for transplant patients. - Gift of Hope said it will spend August on education, outreach and trusted partnerships that replace myths with facts. - More information on events is available at the organization’s calendar. - People can learn more about organ and tissue donation or register their decision at Gift of Hope’s website. - In 2025, Gift of Hope worked with 520 organ donors and their families to make possible 1,529 life-saving organ transplants. - The 1,529 transplants were the highest number of organs recovered in the organization’s history. - Gift of Hope also worked with 2,267 tissue donors in 2025. - Tissue donation helped provide bone, skin and other tissues to restore mobility, health and quality of life for patients.

Between the lines: - The campaign is aimed at a gap that often blocks donation: many families have never discussed their wishes. - Gift of Hope is framing donation as a family and community issue, not just a registration decision. - The focus on multicultural communities reflects the need for broader donor participation to improve matching outcomes. - The organization’s messaging also seeks to reduce fear and misinformation by pairing outreach with trusted partnerships.

What’s next: - Gift of Hope will continue community education and outreach throughout August. - The organization is pushing more people to make their wishes known before a medical crisis forces a decision. - Gift of Hope says clearer conversations now could ease future decisions for families and expand the pool of potential donors.

The bottom line: - Gift of Hope wants National Multiethnic Donor Awareness Month to move organ donation from a hard conversation to a lifesaving plan.