LifeCenter Northwest

Ethnic minorities are facing a public health crisis and are in desperate need of more organ, eye, and tissue donors. Minorities make up only 34% of the U.S. population, but they represent over 54% of the national organ transplant waiting list.

This disparity exists for a number of reasons: First, many of the conditions leading to the need for a transplant—such as diabetes and hypertension—occur more frequently among minority populations. African Americans and other minorities are also three times more likely to suffer from end-stage renal disease than white Americans.

Second, transplant success rates increase when organs are matched between members of similar ethnic backgrounds—but unfortunately, only 30% of donors are ethnic minorities. This creates a shortage of matching organs, which leads to longer waiting periods and higher death rates in communities of color. For example, minorities make up 61% of the kidney waiting list, but minority patients wait twice as long as white Americans for kidney transplants, despite strict equal-access regulations that ensure ethical and equitable distribution of organs.

LifeCenter Northwest is working to reach out to Latino, Asian, African-American, and other minority communities to help combat this problem and build support for a culture of donation. Our diversity program serves all communities, regardless of ethnicity, sexual identity, spiritual practice, ability, or socio-economic status. We are committed to developing and maintaining relationships in every community we serve.

Take Action!

It is through partners in the community that we are able to share the importance of donation; educate, answer questions, and register your community to be donors. Invite LifeCenter Northwest to speak to your group. We offer relevant education and information tailored to your community. To learn more about how you can partner with LifeCenter Northwest in our multicultural outreach, contact us at info@lcnw.org