Recent News

Across the entire country throughout the month of April, thousands of people make a special effort to celebrate the tremendous generosity of those who have saved lives by becoming organ, eye, tissue, marrow, and blood donors. We also take this time to encourage more Americans to follow their example and join the Donate Life Registry. Several activities are organized during this month to call attention to the need for organ and tissue donation, the impact donation has in saving lives of other individuals and the importance of people making their wishes known to their family in the event of an untimely death.

Life-changing legislation signed into law by Governor Cuomo in August 2016 takes effect today, February 14, 2017, potentially impacting thousands. The bill, A.4990B-Ortiz/S.5313A-Hannon, allows sixteen and seventeen-year-olds to express their intent to be organ, eye and tissue donors by enrolling in the New York State Donate Life Registry. With this law, New York joins 48 other registries, including Washington, D.C. and Puerto Rico, where there is either no age restriction to join the donor registry, or the minimum age is younger than eighteen.

TARRYTOWN, NY- The New York Alliance for Donation (NYAD) and its Executive Director, Aisha Tator, are being recognized by The Transplant Support Organization (TSO) with its Outstanding Leadership Award. This award recognizes the organization's hard work and dedication to improving the rate of organ, eye and tissue donation in New York State. TSO, a not-for-profit dedicated to the support of its members and the advancement of organ, eye, and tissue donation and transplantation, will honor NYAD and Tator on December 12, 2016 at their annual Celebration of Life Holiday Party.

With assistance from the statewide donation community, New York Alliance for Donation (NYAD) announces the successful passage of legislation (S.5313-A/A.4990-B) that will permit New Yorkers aged 16 or older to enroll in the NYS Donate Life Registry. Prior to this legislation, the minimum age required for enrollment was eighteen. Now, sixteen and seventeen year olds will be able check "yes" and join the NYS Donate Life Registry when visiting the DMV to obtain a learner's permit, registering to vote, or any other means allowable by the NYS Department of Health.

The law is removing barriers for young adults to fulfill what they feel is an important community responsibility, signing up as an organ and tissue donor. This is a significant change in policy for New York State and was a crucial step towards reducing the number of people waiting for their lifesaving transplant.

The bill, which was signed into law by Governor Cuomo on August 17, 2016, makes New York the forty-ninth state to have either no restriction on the minimum age for an organ and tissue donor or allow for registration at an age younger than 18. The new law goes into effect February 14, 2017.