About Donate Life New York State
The mission of Donate Life New York State is to increase organ, eye, and tissue donation in New York State through collaborative advocacy, education, promotion, and research. Their ultimate goal is to ensure a transplant for every New Yorker in need.
Donate Life NYS also serves as the statewide liaison organization to Donate Life America and is contracted to administer the New York State Donate Life Registry (Registry), a confidential database of people who have signed up to donate their organs, eyes and/or tissues after their death.
There are currently 8,700 New Yorkers waiting for the organ transplant they need to survive. More than 1,500 of them have been waiting 5 years or longer and approximately 500 of them die each year because the organ they need does not become available in time. New York has the third highest need for donors in the nation, yet its donor registry ranks among the lowest in terms of percentage of the population enrolled. Only 43% of New York adults have enrolled as organ and tissue donors in the Registry, compared to a national average of 62%.
Anyone age 16 or older can join the Registry, and no one is too old or too sick to enroll. No one should count themselves out! It’s also important to know that enrolling as a donor will not interfere with medical care: medical professionals will do everything they can to save your life. The doctors who work to save your life are not the same doctors involved with organ and tissue donation. It is only after every attempt has been made to save your life that donation will be considered.
One individual can save 8 lives as an organ donor and can help and heal up to 75 more through eye and tissue donation. Give the gifts of life, sight, mobility, and most importantly: HOPE.
April is National Donate Life Month, a special observance that honors donors, recipients, and their families and caregivers. We also share our appreciation for the clinical teams who honor the gift of donation and save the lives of those waiting for a second chance at life. Celebrate Donate Life Month by enrolling as an organ and tissue donor (donatelifenys.org/register) and share your decision with family and friends to help spread the word!
Want to do more? Contact Robyn Haberman at rhaberman@dlnys.org to discuss ways you and your organization can make a lifesaving impact!
About Robyn
Robyn Haberman is a communications professional with nearly two decades of experience in the world of non-profits and trade associations. She currently serves as the Director of Outreach & Communications at Donate Life New York State, where she uses her passion and enthusiasm to raise awareness about the life-changing impact of organ and tissue donation.
From 2011 to 2017, Robyn worked at the New York State Funeral Directors Association, educating community members statewide (and her own parents) on the benefits of preneed funeral planning. Prior to that, she spent 9 years managing and directing the Team In Training program at the Upstate New York/Vermont Chapter of The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (and ran a few marathons along the way)!
Robyn resides in Latham with her family, raising two small and amazing people. In what little spare time she has, she writes, runs, hikes, kayaks, and tries to attend the occasional yoga class.
Robyn Michele Haberman
Director, Outreach & Communications
Donate Life New York State
