New license plate promotes organ donations

Acting Motor Vehicle Services Director Lino F. Pereira announced that the plates are now on sale at 45 MVS locations throughout the state.

“We already encourage the donation of organs and tissue through check-offs on the back of our driver licenses, and this is a great opportunity to promote the idea, “ Pereira said. “Not only will the proceeds go to fund awareness campaigns, but each license plate is in effect a ‘billboard’ for organ donation.”

The “Donate Life” specialty license plates may be purchased for an initial fee of $50, or $100 for personalized plates containing up to five characters. A yearly renewal fee of $10 will go directly to the Organ and Tissue Donor Awareness Education Fund and will help The Sharing Network continue to educate New Jersey residents about the life-saving benefits of organ donation.

The plate features the National Gift of Life Rose, representing organ and tissue donors, and the green ribbon, the national symbol for organ and tissue donation.

Assemblyman Joseph V. Doria, Jr. (D-Hudson) and Assemblyman Alex DeCroce (R-Morris, Essex, Passaic) -- both long-time advocates of organ and tissue donation -- sponsored the legislation authorizing the new plate. The Springfield-based New Jersey Transplant Association (NJTA), a resource and support group for transplant recipients, and The Sharing Network led the effort that resulted in the legislation.

“We are delighted to present this specialty license plate and are extremely grateful to the State of New Jersey, to Motor Vehicle Services, and the hard work of Malcolm Sturchio, president of the New Jersey Transplant Association, for making it possible to enlist New Jersey citizens in our campaign to promote organ donation through the license plate campaign,” said Joseph S. Roth, president and chief executive officer of The Sharing Network.

“De-mystifying organ donation and getting the general public to understand the importance of making the decision to share life is one that will require as many advocates as we can muster. Thankfully medical breakthroughs make it possible to extend and improve the lives of patients who require transplants, but it is human compassion and care that are a vital part of saving these lives,” added Roth.

For more information about organ donation or to order the new “Donate Life” plate, contact your local Division of Motor Vehicles or call The Sharing Network at 1-800-SHARE-NJ.