Assemblyman Phil Palmesano yesterday voted in favor of a resolution in the state Assembly proclaiming April 2011 as Organ and Tissue Donor Awareness Month in New York. The resolution was unanimously adopted.

“By proclaiming April Organ and Tissue Donor Awareness Month, the Legislature is increasing awareness for organ and tissue donations in order to help the thousands of patients awaiting transplants for organ, eye, tissue, bone marrow, and blood,” said Palmesano. “Organ donation helped my sister and has assisted many other New Yorkers. I would like to encourage New Yorkers to sign up today on the state’s Organ and Tissue Donor Registry so that they, too, can give the gift of life.”

As of last year, in New York State, more than 9,600 people needed lifesaving organ transplants. Out of 19 million New Yorkers, only 1.38 million were enrolled in the New York State Donate Life Registry. A single person donating at the time of their death can help as many as 50 people.

Assemblyman Palmesano’s sister is a two-time kidney transplant recipient, and he would like to encourage individuals to become organ and tissue donors. Individuals who would like to become donors can sign up online at the New York State Organ and Tissue Donor Registry Web site.