Proclamation
WHEREAS, more than 23,000 individuals in California that are currently on the national organ transplant waiting list, and 17 patients die each day due to the shortage of donated organs; and WHEREAS, Donor Network West serves as the federally designated Organ Procurement Organization in Northern/Central California and Northern Nevada and works in close partnership with families, doctors, nurses, and coroners in hospitals to connect donors to recipients; and WHEREAS, organ and tissue are life-giving acts recognized worldwide as expressions of compassion to those in need that save thousands of lives each year; and WHEREAS, the need for donated organs is especially urgent in Asian, Hispanic and African American communities; and WHEREAS, a single individual’s donation of the heart, lungs, liver, kidneys, pancreas and small intestine can save up to eight lives; donation of tissue can save and heal the lives of up to 75 others; and WHEREAS, the spirit of giving and decision to donate are not restricted by age or medical condition; and WHEREAS, over nineteen million Californians have signed up with the state-authorized Donate Life California Registry to ensure their wishes to be organ and tissue donors are honored; and WHEREAS, California residents can sign up with the Donate Life California Donor Registry when applying for or renewing their driver’s licenses or ID cards at the California Department of Motor Vehicles NOW, THEREFORE, I, Matthew serratto, Mayor of the City of Merced, on behalf of the City Council hereby proclaim April 2025 as “National Donate Life Month” in the City of Merced, and in doing so encourage all Californians to check “YES!” when applying for or renewing their driver’s license or I.D. card, or by signing up at donornetworkwest.org.
Signed this 7th day of April 2025
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Matthew Serratto, Mayor of Merced