Michigan Workplace Partnership for Life Members
To see a list of all Michigan companies and organizations actively involved in saving and enhancing lives through organ, tissue, eye, blood and bone marrow donation initiatives, click here.
How Your Company Can Help Save Lives
The U.S. Department of Health & Human Services (HHS) has created a unique opportunity for companies and non-profit organizations to support organ, tissue, eye, blood and bone marrow donation through the Workplace Partnership for Life program. HHS invites companies of all sizes to sign up in partnership of these life-saving and life-enhancing gifts at organdonor.gov.
In addition to national resources through HHS, Michigan Workplace Partners are encouraged to contact Gift of Life for materials specific to our state, including Michigan Organ Donor Registry brochures. Trained volunteer speakers are available at no cost, to inspire and educate your employees about organ and tissue donation. A free 7 minute video is available for staff meetings, internal television broadcasts and new-hire orientation. Other support materials are available free of charge, while supplies last.
Michigan offers three phases of involvement within the Workplace Partnership for Life program. Workplace Partners are encouraged to choose any or all activities from the following list, as fits each individual company:
Phase 1
Hang a poster in the breakroom.
Place Donor Registry brochures in the lobby.
Include an article about donation in the staff newsletter (sample articles available upon request). Invite staff with personal transplant experiences to contribute to the article.
Send an email about donation from the CEO to the staff, including a hyperlink to sign up on the Donor Registry (sample email messages available upon request).
Distribute Donor Registry brochures in employee mailboxes or with paychecks.
Hold a “Casual for a Cause” day benefiting the Michigan Organ and Tissue Donation Education Fund.
Include a Michigan Organ Donor Registry table at your company health fair.
Phase 2
Place a web banner linking to the Donor Registry on your employee intranet site.
Host a “Lunch and Learn” program for staff, inviting a transplant recipient or donor family member to speak and address common myths about donation.
Host a blood and/or bone marrow drive at work. Distribute Michigan Organ Donor Registry brochures to the blood/marrow donors.
Create a company team to participate in the annual LIFE Walk 5k Walk/Run in Detroit.
Have employees wear “Show Us Your Heart” nametags, buttons and/or t-shirts during National Donate Life month in April.
Encourage local media outlets to use organ donation Public Service Announcements.
Phase 3
Post a web banner linking to the Donor Registry on your public internet site.
Offer a special discount or promotional gift to customers who sign up on the Donor Registry (or show the heart sticker on their driver’s license).
Encourage your vendors, customers and partner organizations to join the Workplace Partnership for Life.
Host a transplant recipient or donor family speaker at a staff or manager meeting.
Initiate an interdepartmental “Show Us Your Heart” donor drive challenge.
Use the “Show Us Your Heart” logo on employee ID badges.
Implement an employee leave policy for living organ and marrow donations.
For more ideas on how your company can support donation, please contact Jennifer Tislerics at jtislerics@giftoflifemichigan.org or call 800-482-4881.
For more information specific to cornea and eye donation,
please visit www.midwesteyebanks.org
