CHICAGO – Cook County Health System Chief Executive Officer Dr. Ram Raju and Secretary of State Jesse White urged all Cook County residents to join the effort of Organ/Tissue Donor Registry.

Currently, there are more than 5.2 million people registered to become organ/tissue donors in Illinois. However, more than 300 people die each year waiting for an organ transplant and about 5,000 are on the waiting list.

April is National Donate Life Month. White will attend events throughout Illinois to encourage donation. Organizations will be working together to promote donor awareness throughout the state. Libraries are distributing organ/tissue donor materials and hosting donor drives. Health fairs, schools, universities and hospitals will also be hosting donor drives and featuring displays statewide.

Television and radio ads will air statewide throughout the month in English and Spanish. The ad will also be played on approximately 650 movie screens across the state.