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Observed annually from September 15 to October 15, National Hispanic Heritage Month is a time to celebrate and honor the generosity of Hispanic donors and their families. While we recognize and appreciate their contributions year-round, this month highlights the critical need for individuals from this diverse community to register as organ and tissue donors.

The importance of diversity and organ and tissue donation

Hispanic people make up about 19% of the U.S. population but face a disproportionately higher risk for diabetes, obesity, high blood pressure and other health conditions that could lead to heart disease and organ failure. Hispanics or Latinos are 1.3 times as likely as non-Hispanics/Latinos to develop kidney failure.

Every 8 minutes, another individual is added to the national transplant waiting list, while an average of 13 people die each day while waiting for a transplant.

Although organs are not matched according to race/ethnicity, and people of different races frequently match one another, all individuals waiting for an organ transplant will have a better chance of receiving one of it there are large numbers of donors from their racial/ethnic background.  This means that greater donor diversity can help increase access to transplantation for everyone.

What Can You Do to Help?

Celebrate National Hispanic Heritage Month  by registering as an organ and tissue a donor! It only takes a minute to register and one organ and tissue donor can save up to 8 lives and enhance the lives of over 75 others.