1. You have the
POWER
to save lives

2. ? Who is Conversation Starter!
Ask if anyone had heard of NJ Sharing Network before
Speaking Points
NJ Sharing Network is a non-profit, federally designated organ procurement organization (OPO) committed to saving and enhancing lives through the miracle of organ and tissue donation and transplantation.
NJSN operates 24/7/365 with a team of over 150 highly trained and dedicated members on staff.
NJ Sharing Network Foundation is committed to increasing the number of lives saved through innovative transplant research, family support, public awareness and education about the life-saving benefits of organ and tissue donation and transplantation.
NJSN covers 55 hospitals within 14 different counties.

3. 4,000
Conversation Starter!
Ask the student show many people are waiting for a life saving organ transplant in NJ.
Once the number is revealed ask if it seems like a big number or small number.
Speaking Points
Currently, there are more than 4,000 people in NJ waiting for a life saving transplant.
Go to to find out how many people are waiting in your county!
Relative to NJ it may seem sort of small, BUT It’s important to remember that all of these people are waking up everyday and they are not sure what the next day is going to bring.
Compare this number to how many students are in the school, have the students look around the room and imagine if everyone was waiting for a transplant.

4. 120,000
Conversation Starter!
If there are over 4,000 people in NJ waiting for a transplant, ask them how many people are waiting for a life saving organ transplant across the country.
Speaking Points
This is the number of people waiting for a solid organ transplant in the USA.
This number changes minute by minute.
Currently 22 people are dying everyday because we do not have enough organs to transplant.

5. Waiting List by Organ Kidney - 80% Liver - 12% Heart - 3% Lung - 1%
Conversation Starter!
Ask the students what the most needed organ is.
Speaking Points
Currently 80% of people are waiting for a kidney transplant!
“Other” is made up of pancreas, kidney/pancreas, heart/lung and intestines.
The kidney, liver and lung all have the ability to be donated through living donation.
Kidney is the most commonly donated organ through living donation. One kidney can be donated as you only need one to live a normal healthy life.
There are two donors required for living lung donation, each donating a lobe to the recipient. While the lung does not regenerate the remaining lung tissue expands and fills the space.
A portion of the liver can be donated as it will regenerate.
You MUST be 18 or older to be a living donor.
Lung - 1%
Other - 4%

6. How many lives can be saved from one organ donor?
Conversation Starter!
Ask the students how many lives they think can be saved from one organ donor.

7. Conversation starter!
Ask the students about the liver! We can also do something incredible with the liver because it is the only organ that regenerates! The liver can be split and go on to help two people.
Speaking Points
8 lives can be saved, the potential for 9 with a split liver!
The heart, lungs (can go to two different people), liver, kidneys (can go to two different people), pancreas and intestine
Anyone has the potential to be an organ donor regardless of medical history and age.

8. Kidney/Pancreas Recipient Double-Lung Recipient
Christopher,
Kidney Recipient
Jim,
Liver Recipient
Emma,
Heart Recipient
Devin,
Intestine Recipient
Conversation starter!
Ask the students is they know someone who has been personally affected by organ donation, either on the recipient or donor family end.
Have them share their personal stories if they are open to doing so.
Speaking points
These are all NJ residents and all recipients.
These are people we all know: Parents, grandparents, siblings, neighbors and classmates.
Talk about how these people relate to the community – Jim is a High School Presenter, Emma’s family fund (Hearts for Emma) has allowed us to create new materials for High School students like yourself, Emma received her heart transplant at just 12 years old.
Feel free to add your photo or a photo of someone you know.
Mike,
Kidney/Pancreas Recipient
Denise,
Double-Lung Recipient

9. How many lives can be enhanced with one tissue donor?
Conversation starter!
See if the students know how many lives can be enhanced from one tissue donor.

10. be enhanced with tissue donation!
More than
75 lives can
be enhanced with tissue donation!
Speaking Points
Unlike organ donation, tissue donors do not have to pass away at a hospital or be on a ventilator, which means many more people are able to give the gift of tissue.
Tissue donation has the ability to help more than 75 people.

11. Conversation Starter!
Ask the students how each tissue donation can help someone
Ask the students if they know anyone who has torn an ACL or MCL, this is a very common sports injury that many of them can relate to.
Speaking Points
Example of some tissue donation uses would be:
Corneas can give the gift of sight.
Heart valves can be used for heart defects and valve replacements.
Bones can be used for spinal surgeries or in dental work.
Veins can be used in cardiovascular surgeries or for dialysis patients.
Tendons can be used in many athletic injuries, including ACL repair .
Skin can be used in breast mastectomy reconstruction, babies born with cleft palates, and skin grafts.

12. Why is it so important?

13. days a NJ resident will die waiting for a transplant
Every day 3
NJ residents 
are added to the list
Every 3
days a NJ resident will die
waiting for a transplant
Speaking Points
We will never be able to catch up to the wait list, more and more people are added every day.
We can however, make it so that no NJ resident needs to die waiting for a transplant.

14. The gift of organ donation is truly rare
Conversation Starter!
Ask the students what percentage of people have the ability to be an organ donor
Speaking Points
Being able to be an organ donor is an incredibly rare gift, not many people have the ability to do so.

15. of all deaths go on to become organ donors.
Less than 1%
of all deaths go on to become organ donors.
Speaking Points
When you break it down, it is 1/10 of a percent
For organ donation to occur a person needs to have passed away on a ventilator so we can make sure the organs are functioning and healthy.
In addition to that, when organ donation occurs it is typically a sudden, unexpected brain injury; an accident, fall, brain aneurysm, stroke, etc.

16. What can you do?
There are many things a student can do the raise awareness for organ and tissue donation. The next slides will give a few examples.

17. Register! Conversation Starter!
Ask the students how many of them have had a conversation with their family about their decision.
Speaking Points
There are different ways to register as an organ and tissue donor; you may do it on your drivers license, online or through your iPhone!
You can register online at our website and just click the ‘register’ button if you are 18 or older -
The new online National Registry allows those 18 and under to register their intent
You can now also register as a donor on your iPhone in the health app! This information feeds directly into the National Registry.
One thing just as important as registering is talking to your loved ones about your wishes. Even if you are a registered donor it is important to have a conversation about your decision.
A great conversation starter at home can be found in the resource section at

18. Facebook.com/NJSharingNetwork Instagram @NJSharingNetwork
Spread the word!
#IGotThePower
Facebook.com/NJSharingNetwork
Conversation Starter!
Ask the students how many of them are on social media
Speaking Points
If every person in this room went on to talk about what they learned today we could affect 100’s or 1000’s of people and potentially save lives
Social media is an easy way learn more, get involved or message NJSN

19. Donate Life Clubs
Donate Life Student Chapters work hard to inform the student community about the importance of organ and tissue donation.
Speaking Points
Donate Life Clubs are a great way to get your school and community more involved, the students become the teachers!
Hold an informational session.
Host table displays during lunch.
Publish articles in the school newspaper.
Organize a speaker assembly.
Any student can reach out to NJ Sharing Network at for additional help or to have materials sent to the school.

20. April is Donate Life Month!
April is a great time to get your school, church or community involved
Blue and Green Day
Compete against schools in your district for a registry drive
Any idea can become a new way to raise awareness!
Speaking Points
April is Donate Life Month, a great time to advocate for donation.
April 21, 2017 is National Blue and Green Day, but you can make any day Blue and Green day.
Have the school dress up, take a photo, NJSN can post it on their Facebook page and tag the school
Bakes sales, educational hand outs, morning announcements, sporting groups, registry drives any idea is a good idea to raise awareness.
Sam Prince, a heart recipient, hosted a lemonade stand at his school!

21. Clair, Maggie & Samantha volunteering for our Lily’s Laces mailing!
Volunteer with your friends after school
Earn volunteer hours for
clubs or college
Help with important mailings,
5K planning, and new initiatives!
Speaking Points
NJ Sharing Network offers Certified Volunteer Training once a month at their headquarters, if enough students are interested we can come to the school to do the training.
Students can volunteer within their community or at NJ Sharing Network.
Different activities can be done, including mailings, table displays, health fairs and more.
Clair, Maggie & Samantha volunteering for our Lily’s Laces mailing!

22. Visit Conversation Starter!
Ask the students if they have been to NJ Sharing Network before.
Ask the students if they have visited Liberty Science Center before.
Speaking points
NJ Sharing Network has a state of the art Lab, walls honoring those who have given the gift of life, and plenty of presenters for an interesting and informative day.
Liberty Science Center offers a Live From kidney and heart transplant and an interactive exhibit where you can learn more about donation.

23. Scholarship
The NJ Sharing Network Foundation awards TWO scholarships. The scholarships are awarded to high school seniors who are awareness advocates or personally affected by organ and tissue donation & transplantation
Speaking Points
NJ Sharing Network scholarships are supported by Missy’s Miracles and Betsy Niles Scholarship Fund.
The scholarships are offered to high school seniors who have a personal connection to donation OR have been an advocate for donation.
Each scholarship will be for $5,000 total - $2,500 per semester.
More information can be found at

24. 5K Celebration of Life Anyone can start a team!
Fundraise for an incredible cause!
Easy to get friends and family involved
Earn volunteer hours!
Anyone can start a team!
Speaking Points
NJ Sharing Network Celebration of Life is 5K is not just a run/walk, it brings together donor families, recipients, those waiting, and those who have lost someone waiting
Anyone can become a volunteer for the 5K, you do not have to be a certified volunteer
Great way to get volunteer hours and learn about the organization, while meeting the people impacted by organ and tissue donation.
More information can be found at

25. JOIN US! 2017 5K Celebration of Life
April 2 – Paramus
May 7 – Long Branch
June 4 - New Providence
Speaking Points
April 2nd will be held at Bergen Community College
May 7th will be held at the Long Branch Boardwalk
June 4th will be held at NJ Sharing Network Headquarters in New Providence, NJ
Videos about the 5K Celebration of life can be found
More information about the 5K can be found here