A Community in Need 12% of the U.S. population is African American. 35% of patients awaiting kidney transplants are African American. 0 lives will be saved if you do nothing. For minorities, the shortage in organ donation is particularly significant. Some diseases of the kidney, heart, lung, pancreas and liver are found more frequently in racial and ethnic minority populations than in the general population. For example, African Americans and other minorities are three times more likely to suffer from end-stage renal disease than Whites. Some of these diseases are best treated through transplantation; others can only be treated through transplantation. Do your part to help save lives. As a donor, you can help save eight lives and improve the lives of more than 50 people. Donation is a personal decision and you can choose which organs and tissue to donate. Learn the Truths about Organ and Tissue Donation and Northeast Ohio Statistics. Get answers to what the religious views are regarding donating life. Hear members of our community who support organ and tissue donation. Listen to the Messages of Life, spoken word poetry radio campaign. Meet a donor family and recipient as they share their stories.