Leaders from Syracuse's four hospitals will gather in front of Upstate Golisano Children's Hospital at noon today to encourage healthcare workers to join the New York State Donate Life registry. This initiative to raise awareness of the growing transplant waiting lists is designed to increase the number of people who pledge to donate their organs and tissue upon their death.  Only 17 percent of New York residents have enrolled as organ donors in the state's registry.

The joint hospital effort comes as waiting list for life-saving kidney transplants at Upstate University Hospital has jumped nearly 10 percent in the last year to 287, as Upstate added 26 area residents to the list of those in need of a transplant.  More than 850 Central New Yorkers are waiting for organ transplants, a wait that officials say can last more than four years.

Transplant recipients, donor parents and individuals on the transplant wait list will share their stories during the event with officials from Upstate, Crouse Hospital, St. Joseph‘s Hospital Health Center and the Veterans Administration Medical Center. Immediately after the announcement, a food tasting called A Taste of Upstate will be held in the Kinney Performance Center along with a silent auction until 3:30 p.m. to raise money for donor awareness programs.

More than 50 people can be held by one organ and tissue donor. Anyone can choose to be a donor; age and medical history are not automatic exclusions.

Join the organ and tissue donation registry in New York

Learn more about National Donate Life Month