Summer Avenue Driver Services Center Wins Blue & Green Challenge

MEMPHIS- Today, the Tennessee Department of Safety and Homeland Security was joined by partners from Tennessee Donor Services and Mid-South Transplant Foundation recognizing the Summer Avenue Driver Services employees as the overall statewide winner in the Blue & Green Challenge! All Driver Services Centers are challenged to encourage as many organ and tissue donors when customers visit a Driver Services Center in order to save lives.

“I can’t express enough thanks to the Driver Services employees not just at Summer Avenue, but across the state for their continued efforts promoting donor registration to our citizens,” Commissioner Jeff Long said. “Becoming an organ and tissue donor gives hope to those who are desperately waiting to receive that call. Sometimes an unfortunate situation provides the fortune of life for another. We are also thankful for such a strong partnership with Tennessee Donor Services and Mid-South Transplant Foundation and the good work they do and the impact they have at giving someone a second chance at life.”

Donate Life Tennessee is maintained by the state’s two organ procurement organizations, Tennessee Donor Services and the Mid-South Transplant Foundation. Their mission is to ensure Tennessee residents understand the importance of organ and tissue donation and register as donors. In 2018, 36,000 lives were saved through organ transplantation in Tennessee and thousands more received life improving tissue transplants.

“We cannot overstate the impact Tennessee Driver Services’ employees have on saving the lives of people in Tennessee and across our nation,” said Jill Grandas, Executive Director of Tennessee Donor Services. “98% of Tennesseans register as organ and tissue donors while receiving or renewing their driver licenses or state IDs. Currently, over 2.4 million Tennesseans are registered on Donate Life Tennessee, the state’s nonprofit Donate Life Tennessee Organ and Tissue Donor Registry. We are extremely grateful to them, Commissioner Long, Director Hogan, and the entire department.”

Kim Van Frank, Executive Director, Mid-South Transplant Foundation added: “We celebrate and thank Director Michael Hogan and his staff. Their dedication and hard work by asking the donation question to their customers every day saves lives, restores sight, heals burns and enhances thousands of Tennesseans.”

The Tennessee Department of Safety and Homeland Security’s (www.TN.Gov/safety) mission is to serve, secure, and protect the people of Tennessee.

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