Michigan Organ Donor Registry Award

More than 3,000 people in Michigan and 115,000 nationwide need a live–saving organ transplant.

The state of Michigan received a national award today for the increasing number of residents willing to help save those people’s lives.

Donate Life America presented its annual Greatest Improvement in Donor Designation Rate award to the state of Michigan at a national conference in Texas.

Michigan had the second-highest growth rate last year among the 50 U.S. states.

Nearly 400,000 people joined the Michigan donor registry in 2011.

That’s up 25% from 320,000 two years ago.

The state is on pace for more than half a million people to join this year.

Michigan Secretary of State branch offices are a big part of the improvement.

Secretary of State Ruth Johnson changed department policy so that branch customers are asked, time permitting, if they want to join.