ARORA Creates Buzz for Organ Donation During ‘Donate Life Month’

Arkansas organ and tissue recovery agency, ARORA, is celebrating ‘National Donate Life Month’ in April, honoring those who have restored lives through donation, and encouraging individuals to register to become organ, tissue and eye donors.

ARORA was established in 1987 as a nonprofit, independent organ procurement agency. Serving 64 counties across the state, ARORA is headquartered in Little Rock and has a satellite office in northwest Arkansas.

This year’s National Donate Life Month is themed, “Bee A Donor,” which is “inspired by bees’ powerful role in sustaining life.” ARORA believes bees represent a vital force by working together with dedication, collaboration and a strong sense of community, “just like registered organ and tissue donors, transplant recipients and their families.”

“Registering to become a donor is simple, and it’s the gift of a lifetime,” said Mark Tudor, president and CEO of ARORA. “It gives hope to the more than 100,000 Americans, including more than 300 Arkansans, who are waiting on life-saving transplants.”

In honor of Donate Life Month, ARORA has commissioned a public art display that will be exhibited in spaces throughout the state throughout April. The display comprises 107 bees, in honor of the 107 donors of life-saving organs and the 557 donors of life-restoring tissues in Arkansas in 2021. Each “swarm” exhibit will include a QR code linked to ARORA’s website, where unregistered Arkansans can register online.

“Our mission of Donate Life Month 2022 is to register more donors in our state to offer life-saving organs to the thousands on the national transplant waiting list, 300 of whom are Arkansans,” said Tudor. “We’ve seen the impact that donation has on organ recipients, which gives them a chance for renewed health and more time to spend with their loved ones.”

The displays will be installed at the following locations:

• The Arts & Science Center for Southeast Arkansas, Pine Bluff
• Fort Smith Regional Art Museum, Fort Smith
• Pinnacle Hills Promenade, Rogers
• Pleasant Ridge Town Center, Little Rock
• Razorback Greenway Trailhead, Springdale
• South Arkansas Arts Center, El Dorado
• Springdale Public Library, Springdale
• UALR Windgate Center of Art + Design, Little Rock
• Wildwood Park for the Arts, Little Rock

Pieces in the art installation were created by award-winning Arkansas-based artist Virmarie DePoyster (pictured above).

National Donate Life Month was established in 2003 by Donate Life America to help raise awareness about registering as an organ and tissue donor, and to honor those who have saved lives through the gift of donation. ARORA will also be celebrating other National Donate Life Month events:

• Living Donor Day – April 6: Recognizing living donors for their life-saving generosity.
• Blue & Green Spirit Week – April 16-22: Each day of the week leading up to National Donate Life Blue & Green Day is dedicated to a special theme and will include recognition of donors, volunteers, and healthcare heroes; giving hope to those waiting; and engaging the public in fun, at-home activities.
• National Donate Life Blue & Green Day – April 22: The public is encouraged to wear blue and green and promote the importance of registering as an organ, tissue, and eye donor.
• National Pediatric Transplant Week – April 24-30: National Pediatric Transplant Week focuses on the powerful message of ending the need for the pediatric transplant waiting list.

Many Arkansans are aware that they can register to become an organ and tissue donor when renewing their driver’s license at the DMV. Arkansans can also register online at www.arora.org/donatelife, or go to www.arora.org/kiosks to locate one of ARORA’s “swipe-to-register” kiosks. All that’s needed is an Arkansas driver’s license or state ID card.