Donate Life Mississippi wins local award
Published Thursday, December 12, 2024 at 8:43 AM
Donate Life Mississippi annually recognizes Mississippi Department of Public Safety inspectors and stations for their extraordinary efforts to save and heal lives through organ, eye and tissue donor registration.
In 2024, 105 DPS examiners earned the title of “Donate Life Champions” by achieving enrollment rates of 30% or higher during the designated period. Additionally, Donate Life Mississippi awarded “Red Heart Awards” to top-performing regional DPS stations in Oxford (northern region), Starkville (central region), and Kiln (southern region).
The presentation took place on December 5th at the Oxford office's Buddy East Parkway facility.
Mid-South Transplant Foundation Community Outreach Coordinator Zora Burgess presented the Red Heart Award to District Manager Marie Kitchens. Of particular note is that one of the examiners, Christy Bagsby, has a personal connection to the donation as her father was a donor hero.
“The Office of Driver Services is proud to partner with Donate Life Mississippi in its mission to save and improve lives through organ, eye and tissue donation,” said Treasure Tyson, Director of the Office of Driver Services. . “Through this partnership, we aim to encourage more Mississippians to say ‘yes’ to donations when they visit our driver’s license or website.”
The Mississippi Organ Recovery Agency (MORA) recognizes the important role of DPS in donor registration. “More than 98 percent of Mississippians who register to be organ, eye or tissue donors do so when obtaining or renewing a Mississippi driver's license,” said MORA President and CEO Kevin Stump. . “We commend DPS leaders and staff for their dedicated efforts to expand the donor registry and bring hope to those awaiting life-saving transplants.”
The Mid-South Transplant Foundation (MSTF) congratulates the Giving Life Champions, and Executive Director Kim Van Frank added: Their dedicated donations will help save lives, restore sight, heal burn wounds, and improve the lives of countless Mississippians. ”
Donate Life Mississippi is a partnership of the Mississippi Organ Recovery Agency (MORA), the Mid-South Transplant Foundation (MSTF), the Mississippi Lions Eye Bank (MLEB), the Mississippi Hospital Association, and the Mississippi Department of Public Safety.
A new patient is added to the nation's transplant waiting list every eight minutes, and an average of 16 people die each day waiting for a life-saving transplant. More than 1,300 people are waiting for a transplant in Mississippi. One organ donor can save eight lives, and one tissue donor can save or cure the lives of more than 75 recipients.
Visit us to register your decision to become an organ, eye or tissue donor. registerme.org.