Fiorentini to Proclaim April as ‘Donate Life Month’

Haverhill Mayor James J. Fiorentini will present a proclamation Monday morning to declare April as “Donate Life Month in Haverhill.”

Fiorentini will be joined at Haverhill City Hall by a woman and ”others touched by organ donation,” leaders from the Registry of Motor Vehicles (RMV), New England Organ Bank and legislators “to share stories” of “lives saved because of organ and tissue donation,” according to a statement released Friday.

“The celebration commemorates those who have received or continue to wait for lifesaving transplants as well as the families of individuals who chose to be donors,” a spokesperson said.

The presentation, including legislative citations, takes place at 11:30 a.m., Monday, in the mayor’s office at Haverhill City Hall, 4 Summer St.

In 2015, 719 lives were saved in New England because of “the generosity of individuals who became organ donors.  Thousands more lives were enhanced through the gift of tissue donation,” a statement read. “With the need for life-saving transplants growing every day—over 121,000 patients are now on the U.S. transplant wait list—it is crucial to educate our communities about taking action to register as donors.”

New England Organ Bank is the federally-designated, non-profit procurement organization responsible for the surgical recovery of organs and tissues for transplant throughout the New England region.  For more information and to register as a donor visit www.DonateLifeNewEngland.org.