The Ironton Bureau of Motor Vehicles location received an award for “Most Improved in District 2” for improving their donor registration rate during 2008-2009 by 6.1 percent from 41.8 percent to 44.6 percent.

The 2009 “Organ, Tissue and Eye Donation Front Line Award” is presented to the BMV Deputy Registrar locations in the State of Ohio recording the highest percentage of people saying “yes” to donation by registering their name in the Ohio Donor Registry

The award was presented to the BMV Deputy Registrar location employees by individuals from the area whose lives have been impacted by donation and transplantation as a token of gratitude for their role on the “front lines” of donation, as BMV Deputy Registrar location workers have the responsibility to ensure every Ohioan is asked: “Would you like to make an anatomical gift at the time of your death?”

The award presentation coincided with National Donate Life Month, an opportunity to raise awareness about organ and tissue donation and the lives saved by donors.

Thanks to the generosity of donors, in the United States, more than 28,000 people received a second chance at life though transplantation in 2009.

However, more than 106,000 nationwide are currently waiting for a life-saving transplant. Because of this disparity, 18 men, women and children, die each day in the United States, because a transplant will not come in time.

The Ohio Donor Registry was established by the Ohio Legislature and became effective on July 1, 2002.

Statewide registration shows that approximately 52 percent of all Ohioans renewing their driver’s license or state identification card place their name in the Ohio Donor Registry.

State officials said this award is as much a commendation of the generosity and compassion of the citizens of Ironton as it is to the outstanding commitment of the BMV Deputy Registrar Location that serves them.

Lifeline of Ohio is coordinating this award on behalf of Donate Life Ohio, representing all of the organ, tissue and eye recovery agencies in the state of Ohio.