02/01/2026
This Black History Month, Donor Network West is celebrating the incredible contributions the Black American community has made and continues to make in healthcare. We're privileged to celebrate Black History in conjunction with American Heart Month and educate our communities on the importance of healthcare in the Black/African American community, the importance of maintaining a healthy heart, and how far a heart transplant can go.
Of the total candidates currently waiting for a kidney transplant, 27.8% were Black/African American. With more than 29,000 African Americans waiting for an organ transplant, Black Americans make up the largest group of multiethnic people needing an organ transplant. This is why it is vital for more people to register to become organ donors. The need for intercultural donations is even more significant as organ transplantations' success rate and future success increase interculturally. American Heart Month is imperative because heart disease is the leading cause of death for men, women, and people of most racial and ethnic groups. One person dies every 33 seconds from cardiovascular disease.
