Mayor Schieve of Reno Joins Forces with Donor Network to Encourage Donor Registrations
Reno, Nevada (PRWEB) March 30, 2016 -- Donor Network West and Reno Mayor Hillary Schieve have introduced Have a Little Heart, a new community education program conceived to save lives by promoting organ, eye and tissue donation in partnership with northern Nevada’s business community.
Have a Little Heart, the first official program of its kind in the U.S., allows for patrons to receive a purchase discount at participating businesses by showing their donor designation, (e.g., the red heart on their driver’s license or identification card) at the point of sale. For those not yet registered, it offers an incentive to register and promotes conversations about organ, eye, and tissue donation. Mayor Schieve, a kidney recipient, introduced the idea and helped develop the program.
“I am able to serve as mayor today and to own a small business because I received a kidney from my sister when I was 21. Have a Little Heart is an opportunity for businesses to celebrate patrons who have registered as donors and to show their commitment to saving lives,” said Mayor Schieve.
Businesses that join Have a Little Heart will receive promotional materials and donation literature to be distributed to their patrons. Donor Network West will work closely with each business to provide resources that can better the community’s understanding of life-saving and enhancing donation.
“It takes a community and the empowerment of its leaders to help save lives. The commitment of Mayor Schieve and businesses in northern Nevada, give hope to the nearly 600 Nevadans who await a life-saving organ transplant,” says Cindy Siljestrom, CEO of Donor Network West.
One organ donor can save the lives of up to eight people and a tissue donor can heal more than 50 others. Anyone can register as a donor at DonorNetworkWest.org or at the DMV.
About Donor Network West
Donor Network West saves and heals lives by facilitating organ and tissue recovery for transplantation. The organization was established in 1987, and is an official Donate Life organization accredited by the Association of Organ Procurement Organizations (AOPO) and the American Association of Tissue Banks (AATB). Federally designated to serve 40 counties in northern California and Nevada, Donor Network West partners with the Department of Motor Vehicles and the state-authorized donor registries. For information, visit http://www.DonorNetworkWest.org, follow us on Twitter or like us on Facebook.
Noel Sanchez, Donor Network West, http://www.donornetworkwest.org, +1 925-480-3400, [email protected]
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