LAS VEGAS–Nevada Donor Network announced today that they will be partnering with the Las Vegas-Clark County Library District to help bring public education and awareness to both adults and children about how organ donation saves lives. There are currently more than 100,000 Americans waiting for this lifesaving gift on the national organ transplant waiting list, 650 of whom are Nevadans.
As part of the partnership, Nevada Donor Network will be donating 1,000+ books to the Library District in August during National Multicultural Donor Awareness Month. The books will be distributed to 25 library branches across the Valley.
The donated books will introduce Howl the Owl in his series of children’s books that educate about the importance of organ donation: “Howl Gets a Heart”; “Howl Learns About Lungs”; “Howl Learns about Kidneys and Dialysis”; “Howl Loves His New Liver”; and “Howl Ama Su Nuevo Hígado” (written in Spanish), all authored by Brenda E. Cortez.
In addition to the children’s book series, Nevada Donor Network will also be donating 100 copies of “Transplant Hope,” an anthology including ten stories of individual recipients and how they have been touched by the profound impact of donation. This book is authored by Courtney Kaplan, a local Nevadan and mother of teenage donor hero Michael “Mikey” Sigler, whose donor gift ultimately saved six lives.
Nevada Donor Network will be providing more information about donation and participating in the following Las Vegas-Clark County Library District events:
- August 7 – End of Summer Celebration & Back to School Kickoff at the Rainbow Library (3150 N. Buffalo Dr.)
- August 9 – Back to School Slime Week at the Centennial Hills Library (6711 N. Buffalo Dr.)
- August 13 – Back to School Event at the Whitney Library (5175 E. Tropicana Ave.)
- September 7 – West Charleston Library Be Well Fun Fair at the West Charleston Library (6301 W. Charleston Blvd.)
- October 5 – Summerlin Library Outdoor Fall Festival at the Summerlin Library (1771 Inner Circle Dr.)
- November 2 – Indie Author Day Holiday Book Sale at the Enterprise Library (8310 South Las Vegas Blvd.)
“We are truly honored to join this partnership with the Library District, to provide information about the subject of organ donation to library-goers throughout our community,” said Adriana Connelly, Nevada Donor Network multicultural outreach liaison. “We are excited to launch this outreach effort during National Multicultural Donor Awareness Month, to educate all Nevadans about the critical need for having more diverse organ, eye and tissue donor registrations in the state, but especially those from cultures who may not know about this life-saving service.”
“By incorporating the Howl the Owl books into the library’s collection, we can help parents and young readers learn about this crucial aspect of healthcare, encouraging empathy and informed conversations from an early age,” said Library District Executive Director Kelvin Watson.
One heroic organ donor can save up to eight lives, heal up to 75 lives through tissue donation, and help restore sight to up to two people through cornea donation. Donor heroes and their families leave a lasting legacy of life with their donations.
To learn more or register to become a donor hero, visit www.nvdonor.org/lvccld.
About Nevada Donor Network
Nevada Donor Network is a federally designated 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organ procurement organization (OPO) committed to saving and healing lives through organ, eye and tissue donation. Established in 1987, Nevada Donor Network is one of only 56 OPOs in the United States serving more than 3 million people in the state of Nevada and over 100,000 potential transplant recipients across the country. We work collaboratively with hospital staff and community partners to promote research and provide a strong support network to courageous donor families who’ve turned loss into hope. At Nevada Donor Network, we encourage Nevadans to help individuals in need of life-saving transplants through education, research and action. Nevada Donor Network is a member of Donate Life Nevada, an affiliate of Donate Life America, whose state-wide efforts encourage Nevadans to register as donors. For more information, please visit www.nvdonor.org.
About Las Vegas-Clark County Library District
The award-winning Las Vegas-Clark County Library District is an independent taxing entity that serves a diverse community across 8,000 square miles. Through its 25 branches and website, the Library District offers a collection of 3.2 million items consisting of books, movies, music (including streaming and downloadable), online resources, as well as free programs for all ages. The Library District is a vibrant and vital member of the community offering limitless learning; business and career advancement; government and social services support; and best of all, a place where customers find a sense of culture and community. For more information, and to support Library District programs, please visit thelibrarydistrict.org.
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