(The Center Square) – Illinois Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias has announced the launch of the Lifesaving Education and Awareness on Donation program.
Giannoulias said the LEAD program enables high school students to serve as ambassadors for the Illinois Organ and Tissue Donor Program.
“Teen understanding and awareness of organ donation is vital to tackling the shortage of organ donors. That’s why we are encouraging high school students across the state to join the program, to become ambassadors, and to help us in our ongoing mission to save as many lives as possible though donation,” Giannoulias said.
Gavin Dillon is an organ recipient who works as a regional coordinator for the Secretary of State’s organ donation program.
“Every day I am grateful for my donor, who is my hero. And I’m thankful for the opportunity through my work to educate others on the issue and encourage everyone to register as an organ donor,” Dillon said.
The LEAD program allows high school students the opportunity to gain community service hours by participating.
Giannoulias said Illinois has experienced a 38% decrease in the number of new organ donor registrants from age 16 to 21 during the past 10 years.
“We don’t have the data to really inform us as to why it is. We’ve looked at it. We’ve thought about it, and there are a million contributing factors. I actually feel, with social media and the ability for information to get out there, that the numbers should be reversed,” Giannoulias said.
The decrease follows legislation passed in 2018 that allowed 16-and-17-year olds to register.
Giannoulias said his office is partnering with the Illinois State Board of Education to give high school students the opportunity to earn service hours by serving as ambassadors for the Illinois Organ and Tissue Donor Program.
Giannoulias announced the program’s launch at Walter Payton College Preparatory High School in Chicago. The school is named for the late Pro Football Hall of Famer and Chicago Bears running back, who advocated for organ donation before his death from liver cancer in 1999.