Public Education
- WNY Network for Organ & Tissue Donation
- Volunteer Opportunities
- Decision For Life Grant
WNY Network for Organ & Tissue Donation
The Western New York Network for Organ & Tissue Donation is a local coalition of organizations and individuals that have joined forces to promote public awareness of organ and tissue donation. The Network was formed in January 1995 as the result of efforts by Upstate New York Transplant Services, Inc. (UNYTS) to bring together several organizations with a vested interest in promoting donation. Current members represent organ procurement, transplantation, medical, biomedical, patient care, voluntary and non-profit agencies.
The WNY Network is affiliated with the Coalition on Donation, an alliance of national organizations and local coalitions. The national Coalition was founded in 1992 to educate the public about organ and tissue donation, correct misconceptions about donation, and create a greater willingness to donate. Local coalitions such as the WNY Network are an integral part of this alliance.
The National Coalition’s goal is to ensure that every individual in the United States understands the need for organ and tissue donation and accepts donation as a fundamental human responsibility. Through partnerships with advertising groups, the Coalition has developed a public education campaign. The WNY Network’s immediate goal is to make this national message locally relevant.
The mission of the WNY Network for Organ & Tissue Donation is to increase community awareness and promote organ and tissue donation through education, so that Western New Yorkers have the knowledge and resources to make an informed, personal choice regarding organ and tissue donation.
Members of the local coalition are: Buffalo General Hospital; Children’s Hospital of Buffalo; CryoLife; Erie County Medical Center; National Kidney Foundation of WNY; Peter and Tommy Liver Foundation; Timothy E. Bell Memorial Foundation; Transplant Recipients International Organization; UNYTS; and the Veterans Administration Medical Center.