Why you should think about donating organs

Now that you have the facts, you can see that being an organ donor can have a big impact. And your donation helps more than just one person getting a major organ. By donating your organs and tissue after you die, you can save up to eight lives and improve 75 more. Many families say that knowing their loved one helped others helped them cope with their loss.

People of all races and ethnic groups are needed as organ donors. The need is especially high in some communities, including Black Americans, Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders, Native Americans, and Hispanics.

Blood type and tissue type help match donated organs with people who need them. Some blood types are more common in certain racial and ethnic groups. This means transplant success may be more likely when the donor and the person getting the organ share a similar racial or ethnic background.