August 1 - National Minority Donor Awareness DayNational Minority Donor Awareness Day is celebrated August 1 as a time to educate individuals on the need for minority donors and the facts surrounding organ, blood and tissue donation.
National Minority Donor Awareness Day is celebrated August 1 as a time to educate individuals on the need for minority donors and the facts surrounding organ, blood and tissue donation. The day is also used to promote healthy living and disease prevention in order to decrease the need for transplants. Of the nearly 100,000 people on the transplant waiting list, about half, or 51 percent, are minorities. African Americans make up the biggest portion of minorities on the waiting list at 27 percent, followed by Hispanics, Asians, Native Americans and Pacific Islanders. Most often people on the waiting list are awaiting kidney transplants. Although minorities make up 20 percent of the United States population and 23 percent of donors, there are often opportunities to donate while living and improve another person's life.
More info here:
http://minorityhealth.hhs.gov/templates/content.aspx?ID=8534&lvl=2&lvlID=19