2015Retailers4LifeOverview
Thank you for participating in the 2015 Retailers4Life campaign! Retailers4Life is a partnership with The Retail Merchants Association and United Network for Organ Sharing aimed at increasing awareness of organ donation and transplantation and encouraging people to register as organ, eye, and tissue donors.
This kit includes everything you need to start spreading the word about the importance of organ, eye, and tissue donation. Please use these materials in your place of business throughout the month of April to promote organ, eye and tissue donation and National Donate Life Month.
Organ donation and transplantation saves lives! One organ donor can save up to 8 lives, one eye donor can restore sight to two people, and one tissue donor can restore health to more than 50 people. More than 123,000 people are waiting for a lifesaving organ transplant in the United States and up to 21 people die each day because an organ was not available in time.
Signing up to be an organ, eye, and tissue donor is easy. If you live in Virginia, you can sign-up at at your local DMV or by filling out a donor sign-up card. If your customers live outside of Virginia, they can register at
If you need additional materials or have questions, please contact Michelle Tolliver, UNOS PR & Marketing Outreach Coordinator at 804-782-4865 or .
Thank you again for participating in Retailers4Life and supporting organ, eye, and tissue donation and transplantation. Working together, we are savinglives!
2015Retailers4LifeDisplay
- Create a Retailers4Life display/exhibit at your business that highlights National Donate Life Month and registering to be an organ donor.
Be creative! Your display could include:
—profiling a client who is an organ, eye, or tissue recipient
—highlighting an employee who is waiting for a transplant
—a blue and green display with your company items such as clothes, food or office supplies. National Blue & Green Day is Friday, April 17th.
- Have your display in place by Monday April 6thand keep it up through the end of April.
- Email a picture(s) of your display to be included in RMA social media posts throughout the month to: Megan Way, RMA Marketing & Communications Coordinator .
- All participantswho submit a picture by Monday April 20th will be entered into a drawing. A winner will be drawn at random on April 21st.
- The winning business will receive a gift certificate for an overnight stay at The Westin Richmond, 2 registrations for United for UNOS 5K and Fun Run, 2 tickets to United for UNOS 7th Annual Soiree and a Networking Lobby Table promoting your business at the May 1st RMA First Friday Forum ($100 value).
- If you’d like to engage your staff and customers by hosting a talk or reception featuring an organ donor family or transplant recipient, call Michelle Tolliver, UNOS, 804-782-4865.
- For more information visit
Organ Donation FAQ
What is organ and tissue donation?
Organ and tissue donation is the process of surgically removing organs and tissues from a deceased person in order for the organs and tissues to be used for transplantation and/or medical research.
Who can be an organ, eye, and tissue donor?
Everyone should consider him/herself a potential organ, eye, and tissue donor. Your medical condition at the time of death will determine what organs and tissues can be donated. Organs are recovered from individuals who have been declared brain dead. Organ donors may also be able to donate eyes and tissue. An individual whose heart has stopped beating has died of a cardiac death, and the organs cannot be donated for transplantation in most cases. The patient is, however, a potential candidate for eye and tissue donation.
How do I become a donor?
In Virginia, your wishes are honored according to state law based on your donor designation. There are several ways to indicate your wish to become a donor: register at designate “organ donor” on your driver’s license or state issued identification card. If you reside outside of Virginia, you can register at
What organs can be transplanted?
One organ donor can save up to eight lives. Organs that can be transplanted include—heart, lungs (2), liver, kidney (2), pancreas and intestines.
What tissues can be transplanted?
One tissue donor can enhance the lives of more than 50 individuals. Tissues that can be transplanted include—blood vessels, heart valves, bone, corneas, sclera, pericardium, fascia, cartilage and skin.
One eye donor can restore sight to two people.
Will my decision to donate interfere with my own health care?
No! Health care institutions exist to help you, all measures will be taken to save you, and doctors are bound by the Hippocratic Oath to do so. The donor program is only activated once death has been declared. There is no conflict of interest between the doctors declaring death and the donor program. Medical personnel must follow strict guidelines before they can pronounce death and remove organs.
Who will receive my donated organs?
Transplant coordinators utilize a national computer system managed by United Network for Organ Sharing to find the best match for your donated organs. The computer system lists the potential recipients based on their blood type, body size, medical urgency and length of time on the waiting list.
Organ Donation Myths
Myth: If emergency room doctors know I am a donor, they won’t try to save my life.
Fact: If you are sick or injured and admitted to the hospital, the number one priority is to save your life. The doctors who work to save your life are not the same doctors involved with organ donation. It is only after every attempt has been made to save your life that donation will be discussed with your family.
Myth: When you’re waiting for a transplant your financial or celebrity status is as important as your medical status.
Fact: The organ allocation and distribution system is blind to wealth or social status. The length of time it takes to receive a transplant is influenced by a variety of factors including location, severity of illness, physical characteristics (blood type, weight, genetic typing, and size) and length of time on the waiting list. Factors such as race, gender, age, income or celebrity status is never considered when determining who receives an organ.
Myth: They might take my organs before I am really dead.
Fact: Organ donation is only accepted following the declaration of death by a doctor not involved in transplantation. In order to donate organs, a patient must be declared dead. Using specific medical criteria, a physician can confirm brain death beyond any doubt.
Myth: I carry a donor card and it is in my will that I want to be a donor, so I don’t have to tell my family about my wishes.
Fact: Your will may be read too late to make donation possible. In Virginia there are two ways to legally declare your decision to donate—indicating your decision on your driver’s license or online in the statewide donor registry Also, make certain your family is aware of your wishes so that they may assist recovery staff in carrying out your wishes.
Myth: If I agree to donate my organs, my family will be charged for the costs.
Fact: There is no cost to the donor’s family or estate for organ and tissue donation. Funeral costs remain the family’s responsibility.
Myth: My religion prohibits organ donation.
Fact: All major organized religions approve of organ, eye, and tissue donation and consider it an act of charity.
Myth: I am too old and sick to be a donor.
Fact: People of all ages should consider themselves potential donors. Your medical condition at the time of death will determine what organs and tissues can be donated. With recent medical advances in transplantation many more people than ever before can be donors.
Myth: I have heard about people who steal kidneys and sell them on the black market.
Fact: There is no evidence of any such activity occurring in the United States. It is illegal to buy or sell human organs. In addition, a national governing body reviews every organ donation and transplant. Strict regulations prevent any type of “black market” existence in the United States.