History and Accomplishments

1985	Key agencies and OPOs identified and agreed to establish a statewide coalition to raise public awareness about the need for organ and tissue donation.
1986	Partnership with DMV established.
1988	1988 First Coalition sponsored poster contest involved three (3) schools in the Milford area. Seventeen (17) posters were submitted for judging. Keith Kontz judged the contest.
1989	First statewide poster contest endorsed by CT Department of Education.
1992	Coalition is incorporated in state of Connecticut as a non-profit corporation and received Federal Employer Tax ID Number.
1993	US Surgical Corporation funded the printing of a calendar that contained poster winners. Posters were distributed via CT DMV emission testing centers.
1996	CCOTD received IRS tax-exempt status as a 501(c)(3) corporation.
1998	CCOTD became associate member of CT Community Health Charities.
2000	In partnership with SNET, organ donation information and cards were inserted in all employee paycheck envelopes.
2000	Developed cookbook as a fundraiser, comprised of recipes from organ and tissue donors/recipients and professionals in the Coalition community.
2001	Connecticut Coalition website launched.
2001-2002	Received Allstate Foundation funding for publication and printing of Coalition Annual Report.
2001-2003	Organ donation movie held 57 screenings in six theaters in Connecticut had organ Coalition and donation information as tag for each screening.
2004	Rotary district representation on Board of Directors. Presentations given at local CT Rotary meetings.
2004	Created Coalition note cards as a fundraiser, which illustrated artwork from previous poster contest winner submissions.
12/2005	“Thanks for Asking” Campaign kicked-off to recognize the employees of the Department of Motor Vehicles for their assistance in registering organ and tissue donors during driver license or ID card applications or renewals.
2005/2006	Organ donation registration information incorporated into the DMV driver’s manual (inside cover).
1/2006	Light Up Someone’s Life…Be An Organ Donor: Donate Life CT monthly United Illuminating newsletter “The Source”.
4/2006	Public acknowledgement and declaration of April being “Organ and Tissue Donor Awareness Month” in the State of Connecticut, given by Governor M. Jodi Rell and the Connecticut General Assembly and a donor flag raising ceremony at the State Capitol.
9/2006	Dedication Bench and engraved stone installed at the State Capitol building to honor organ and tissue donors and their families.
8/2007	Awarded State of Connecticut grant for funding public education activities and promoting organ and tissue donation awareness.

Transplantation Timeline

Donate Life Connecticut

1954 - First successful kidney transplant performed.
1966 - First simultaneous kidney/pancreas transplant performed.
1967 - First successful liver transplant performed.
1968 - First successful isolated pancreas transplant performed. First successful heart transplant performed.
1981 - First successful heart-lung transplant performed.
1983 - First successful single-lung transplant performed. Cyclosporine introduced.
1984 - National Organ Transplant Act (NOTA) passed.
1986 - First successful double-lung transplant performed.
1987 - First successful intestinal transplant performed.
1988 - First split-liver transplant performed.
1989 - First successful living donor liver transplant performed.
1990 - First successful living donor lung transplant performed.
1998 - First successful adult-to-adult living donor liver transplant performed.
2000 - U.S. Department of Health and Human Services publishes Final Rule (federal regulation) for the operation of the OPTN.
2001 - For the first time, the total of living organ donors for the year (6,528) exceeds the number of deceased organ donors (6,081).