April is more than just the beginning of spring; it’s also designated as Donate Life Month, a period dedicated to raising awareness about the critical need for organ donation and transplantation. In line with this important cause, the American Society of Transplantation (AST), headquartered in Mount Laurel, New Jersey, is calling upon employers to take action by supporting living organ donation through the implementation of paid leave policies.
Across the United States, over 100,000 individuals are currently awaiting life-saving organ transplants, with an alarming statistic of 16 people dying each day while on the waiting list. The urgency of addressing this need cannot be overstated, and paid leave policies are instrumental in making living organ donation more accessible and feasible for potential donors.
The AST’s Living Donor Circle of Excellence program spearheads this initiative by providing a platform for employers to demonstrate their commitment to supporting living organ donation through paid leave offerings. This esteemed program, which comes at no cost for employers to join, serves as a recognition mechanism for companies that prioritize the well-being of their employees and the broader community.
Currently, the Living Donor Circle of Excellence boasts 167 participating companies, collectively covering 2.5 million employees. These companies serve as exemplary models of corporate responsibility and compassion, setting a standard for others to follow in supporting this life-saving cause.
As we observe Donate Life Month, the AST urges employers not just in New Jersey but across the nation to recognize the profound impact they can have by implementing paid leave policies for living organ donation. Together, we have the power to transform lives and offer hope to those awaiting the precious gift of organ transplantation.
The AST doesn’t just advocate for this cause; its commitment is deeply personal. In 2023, the organization’s Transplant Community Program Manager, Brooke Iarkowski, became a non-directed living kidney donor, utilizing the Circle of Excellence Leave program.
“Organ donation and transplantation are extremely personal to me,” says Brooke. “I watched my dad give my mom the gift of life through living donation nearly 15 years ago. I knew the minute I watched my mom come out of surgery and see the immediate changes in her health that I wanted to be able to do that for someone one day. I am so thankful AST supported me emotionally and financially through this process of donating a kidney. It allowed me to heal without the concern of a missing paycheck. I don’t know if I would have been able to give this gift without that support.”
For more information on the American Society of Transplantation and the Living Donor Circle of Excellence program, please visit LivingDonorCircle.com.
