African-American donors needed!

At this moment, there are 110,461 people on the national waiting list for organ transplants. That number will probably change many more times today; in fact, a new name is added about every 11 minutes. It’s no secret – we have a huge shortage of available organs in the U.S.

This is a particularly big problem for African-Americans, who face increased risks for diabetes and kidney disease. There are 32,343 black patients currently listed for transplants, and 93% of those individuals need a kidney transplant. This group makes up nearly 30% of the national waiting list, but in 2010, only 14% of donors were black.

Transplant success rates dramatically increase when the donor and recipient are members of the same race, so it’s critical to register more African-Americans with their state donor registries.

As we celebrate Black History Month and recognize the wonderful leaders who have changed our society for the better, please take a moment to consider becoming an organ donor.

It’s easy! Visit our Transplant Challenge page to sign up with your state donor registry today.

Celebrate Black History Month with Nordstrom

REGISTER TO BE A BONE MARROW DONOR.

Many people are fighting life-threatening diseases like leukemia and sickle cell anemia, and they need a bone marrow transplant to survive. Donor matches are critical, especially among minority groups. Only 7% of the 9 million Be The Match Registry® members are African-American. In honor of Black History Month, Nordstrom is helping raise awareness about the need for black donors.

For every person who joins the Be The Match Registry® through nordstrom.com/bhm from February 1–28, Nordstrom will support the cost of adding a new member to the registry, up to $75,000.

For more information or to learn how to register, visit Be the Match. Donor registration information will not be shared with Nordstrom.