Pottawattamie County Recognizes April as Donate Life Month

Posted April 22, 2026
Posted by Medical Examiner and Public Relations

Pottawattamie County has officially proclaimed April 2026 as National Donate Life Month, joining communities across Iowa and the nation in raising awareness about the importance of organ, eye, and tissue donation. The proclamation was approved by the Pottawattamie County Board of Supervisors during its April 21 meeting. 

Observed each April, Donate Life Month honors the generosity of donors and their families while encouraging more individuals to consider registering and giving the gift of life. 

More than 100,000 people in the United States are currently waiting for a lifesaving organ transplant, including over 600 Iowans. A new person is added to the national transplant waiting list every eight minutes, highlighting the ongoing and urgent need for registered donors. 

“The stories of loved ones who give the heroic gift of donation don’t end in the moment of donation,” said Madelyn Clark, Partner Relations Coordinator with Iowa Donor Network. “They continue on, living through the lives they touch.” 

The impact of donation is far-reaching. One organ donor can save up to eight lives, while a single tissue donor can heal more than 75 people. In 2025 alone, Iowa donors made a significant impact. A total of 124 organ donors provided 376 organs for transplant, while more than 2,000 tissue and eye donors helped thousands more. 

Locally, the Pottawattamie County Medical Examiner’s Office referred 143 potential donors to Iowa Donor Network in 2025. From those referrals, nine individuals became tissue donors—each with the potential to impact dozens, and in some cases hundreds, of lives. 

Pottawattamie County also recognizes the vital role of organizations like Iowa Donor Network and the dedicated work of local medical professionals, including the Pottawattamie County Medical Examiner’s Office, in supporting donation and honoring donors. 

Throughout Donate Life Month, residents are encouraged to learn more about organ, eye, and tissue donation and the registration process. Additional information, including how to register as a donor, is available at IowaDonorNetwork.org. 

By learning more about donation and sharing their decision with loved ones, individuals can help create a lasting legacy, offering hope, healing, and a second chance at life to those in need.