New Jersey Sharing Network - Saving Lives Through Organ and Tissue Donation - African American Planning Committee

Feature Event

City of Orange and NJ Sharing Network partner for National Minority Donor Awareness Day August 1st
to bring attention to special need for organ and tissue donations

Learn more

Who We Are

NJ Sharing Network has formed an African American Planning Committee. Its focus is to dispel the many myths and misconceptions about organ donation that still plague the Minority Community. One of its main goals is to reassure many African Americans that organ donation is truly a miracle and that people from that community are receiving this miracle daily.

Over the past four years the Committee has befriended many organizations, municipalities and community leaders. The NAACP, The Links Inc., The 100 Black Men of New Jersey, The National Council of Negro Women and more have supported organ donation advocacy in the African American community.

Another reason for the African American Planning Committee is to help plan and promote The African American Heritage Month Awards Dinner, which is tremendously supported by many minority organizations and houses of worship throughout the community.

As a result of the success of their efforts, NJ Sharing Network is able to increase awareness within minority communities. Your support can play a major role in our continued success.

Please contact Felicia McNeil at 973-379-4535 or e -mail her at fmcneil@sharenj.org for more information.

Vickie Hunter Featured in Record Article,
“The Heartfelt Gift of Life”
by Lawrence Aaron

The media spotlight shines on five year heart transplant recipient and NJ Sharing Network volunteer Vickie Hunter. Vickie recently participated in a newspaper interview that highlighted the National Donor Sabbath efforts of the “Linkages to Life”, a national collaborative initiative between The Links, Inc. and Roche to promote organ and tissue donor awareness in the African-American religious community.

Read the Article.

Additional Resources

For information on Type 2 Diabetes
http://www.diabetes.org/home.jsp

For information on Hypertension
http://www.hypertensionhelp.com

National Kidney Foundation Website.

Health Issues in
Minority Communities

The need for organ transplants and the shortage of donors affects people of all ethnic backgrounds.

Did you know that African-Americans are four times more likely to suffer from high blood pressure, which can lead to end-stage kidney failure and require a transplant? African-Americans make up 32% of the country’s dialysis patients and one third of those waiting for kidney transplants.

Did you know that 35% of Asian-Americans suffer from end-stage renal (kidney) disease due to diabetes? One cause of end-stage renal disease is glomerulonephritis. Asian-Americans make up over 1% of patients waiting for kidney transplants.

Clearly, certain minority groups are more susceptible to the diseases that lead to the need for organ transplants. Education is essential for these groups to better understand disease prevention, and the benefits of organ donation and transplantation. Information is readily available at many churches, community groups, and schools. You can also call NJ Sharing Network at 1-800-SHARE-NJ to find out what you can do to help yourself, your family and those in need.