Multicultural Outreach
#DonationNeedsDiversity
New Jersey is a diverse state filled with a rich history and culture. Although each ethnic and cultural group has their own unique perspective on organ and tissue donation, generosity and helping others in need are valued as important components of all communities.
Let’s come together to increase awareness in diverse communities about organ and tissue donation and help save lives.
Celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month!
Observed annually from September 15 to October 15, National Hispanic Heritage Month honors the history and culture of Hispanics and Latin Americans whose origins are from Spain, Mexico, the Caribbean, and Central and South America. National Hispanic Heritage Month also recognizes the contributions that Latinos and Hispanics have made to the history, society, and culture of the United States and honors our Mexican, Chilean, and Central American brothers who celebrate their independence during this month.
During this month, our community celebrates and honors the generosity of Hispanic and Latino donors and donor families who gave the gift of life, as well as all Latinos who work every day saving lives through organ and tissue donation and transplantation. Additionally, we raise awareness of the critical need for the Latino/Hispanic/Latinx community to register as organ and tissue donors.
Let's celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month by registering as organ and tissue donors! English / Spanish
Events
Join us for a Celebration of Life and Dance on Saturday, September 23 from 11am-4pm at the Elizabethport Community Center in Elizabeth, NJ. The event is free to the community, and will feature music, food, dancing and more. Click the flyer to view in Spanish! 
We’ll also be at the Puerto Rican Day Parade & Festival in Newark on Sunday, September 17! Visit our table and keep an eye out for our NJ Sharing Network van in the parade! For more information, visit here!
Social Media Graphics
Help spread the word and encourage others to register as organ and tissue donors by downloading and sharing the following graphics on your Facebook, Twitter and Instagram pages. Thanks you to Health Resources & Services Administration (HRSA) and Association for Multicultural Affairs in Transplantation (AMAT) for supplying these images.
Click on images to view. To download, right click and choose "Save As".
Stories of Hope
“My donation story started with a TV program I had watched featuring organ transplant recipients meeting their donor families. I was so moved by the emotion of both the recipients and the families that I began to consider the idea of becoming a living donor. After discussing with my wife, who had worked as a dialysis tech for 9 years, I reached out to Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital to register as an altruistic donor, meaning I would be donating a kidney to a stranger.
After extensive testing, I was approved as a donor and was matched with a person who had been on the waiting list for a number of years. At the time, my life was very busy with work and I was offered the option of waiting but I said no. I would feel terrible if I waited and that person passed.
The surgery was completed without a single issue and I was up and walking around the next day. Three months after the surgery I ran my first 5k at the NJ Sharing Network 5K Celebration of Life and ran a second one a month later. It had been over twenty years since I last ran and I felt fantastic.
I am very fortunate to be able to meet my recipient and I don't think my gift could have gone to a more deserving person. Our meeting was filled with so much emotion and she was so kind and thankful. Her son hugged me and thanked me for giving him his mom back and at that moment, I knew I had done the right thing. They are now a second family to me, and my recipient calls me every two weeks to make sure that I'm ok and that my health hasn't changed. Her son calls to check on me as well.
My family thinks that I am a hero, but I tell them all I did was help someone in need and that we are all capable of doing so. My family have all registered as organ and tissue donors since my surgery!
It truly has been an amazing experience and I will continue to spread the word about organ and tissue donation to anyone that will listen!”
—Luis Rios, Living Donor
Read more Stories of Hope.
The Facts
Why #DonationNeedsDiversity Matters
People of all ages, races, and ethnicities can save and enhance lives by donating their organs, eyes and tissue. Organ and tissue transplants are needed by people from every area of our nation.
Most of the conditions that can result in organ failure are best treated through transplantation.
People of most races and ethnicities in the U.S. donate in proportion to their representation in the population. The need for transplant in some groups, however, is disproportionately high, frequently due to a high incidence of conditions such as high blood pressure or diabetes, both of which can lead to the need for a kidney transplant.
A greater diversity of donors may potentially increase access to transplantation for everyone.
About organ and tissue donation
- People of all ages and medical histories should consider themselves potential donors
- The decision to be an organ donor will in no way affect the level of medical care for a sick or injured person.
- Organs are matched according to medical need, compatibility and location. A patient’s income, race or social status is never taken into account.
- Most religions support organ donation and consider it the greatest gift a person can give.
- One organ and tissue donor can save 8 lives and enhance the lives of over 75 others.
Thank you for celebrating National Minority Donor Awareness Month with us in August!
National Minority Donor Awareness Month is an initiative to save and improve the quality of life of diverse communities by creating a positive culture for organ and tissue donation, focusing primarily on African American, Hispanic, Asian/Pacific Islander and Native American communities.
Our award winning #DonationNeedsDiversity initiative honors the generosity of multicultural donors and their families, while also underscoring the critical need for people from diverse communities to register as organ and tissue donors.
Sharing our life-saving message
To kick off National Minority Donor Awareness Month, we launched an awareness building campaign for organ and tissue donation featuring custom billboards, bus, and train posters in diverse communities throughout NJ (list of locations). If you see one of our billboards or posters please snap a photo and email to us at socialmedia@njsharingnetwork.org!
We partnered with Walgreens!
On August 26, we shared our life-saving message eleven Walgreens locations throughout NJ. Thanks to all who participated!
Thank you for supporting our School Supplies Drive!
Throughout the month of August we hosted a drive to provide school supplies to children in need in NJ. Supplies will be distributed at our Live Healthy and Move event in Paterson on September 16 and to various schools in diverse communities throughout the state.
Stories of Hope
Devon Lewis, 23, of Neptune, NJ, passed away unexpectedly on April 26, 2022, after suffering a severe asthma attack. The beloved son of Karen Lucas and Michael Lewis, Devon graduated from Neptune High School and attended Lincoln Technical Institute where he earned a HVAC certification. His loved ones will never forget his selfless nature in caring for the needs of others. “Our hearts were broken when we received the devastating news in the hospital that Devon was brain dead due to the loss of oxygen to his brain,” said Karen, Devon’s mother. “Our beloved son was gone. It was at that time that Devon's father and I spoke with the caring staff of NJ Sharing Network about organ and tissue donation. We went home that evening and discussed it further. We recognized that Devon had the chance to help others and we said, ‘yes’ to donation.” Devon’s family has received heartwarming letters from several organ and tissue transplant recipients whose lives were saved and enhanced thanks to Devon’s gifts. Devon’s heart was successfully transplanted to save the life of a 15-year-old girl, his liver saved a 57-year-old man, and his kidneys saved a 24-year-old man and a 61-year-old man. Devon’s tissue donations also enhanced the quality of life for those suffering from chronic pain and impaired mobility. “Devon became a hero by saving the lives of others. His spirit and memory will live on forever,” said Karen.
Read more Stories of Hope.