Every day, 20 Americans die without a life-saving organ transplant. In the United States alone, more than 112,000 patients need a life-saving organ donor transplant. Every 10 minutes, another person is added to the waiting list. In Nebraska, 400 people wait for a life-saving transplant.
Nine out of 10 Americans support organ donation but only half of them are actually registered donors. College students are generally supportive of organ donation but this support does not translate into more registered organ donors or stronger advocates.
To increase awareness and build advocacy of organ donation, the University of Nebraska at Omaha (UNO) PRSSA chapter created a digital campaign, “Let Life Bloom.” The team chose “Let Life Bloom” in tribute to organ donors who give the ultimate gift of life that allows another life to grow and blossom.
Initial plans called for an on-campus event on April 8, 2020, which would feature a panel of organ donor recipients and family members. The team planned to hold interactive games and distribute free flower seed packets, stickers and a sack lunch. All events were to take place outside on the student center plaza. However, COVID-19 forced the campus shutdown, cancelling all events.
Instead, the team focused its mission to bring awareness and education through digital media platforms in a partnership with Live On Nebraska. Through social media channels and the UNO PRSSA website, the team encouraged students and community members to participate in a survey or quiz to receive a free packet of Forget- Me-Not flower seeds and stickers.
Please download the PDF booklet to read more about our research, planning, execution and evaluation.
