A number of excellent resources are available to teachers and educators who want to include information on organ/tissue donation and transplantation in their classrooms. These materials are also available to leaders of youth groups, service groups and civic groups. Some of these materials are appropriate for any age, while others have target audience ages, which are noted. Carolina Donor Services asks that you please call us if you have feedback about these materials or if you are seeking something more specific for your classroom.

Educational Materials
Materials for educators are available from Donate Life NC. The materials were tailored for Driver's Education Classes, but many of them can easily be adapted to other classroom or educational settings. A lesson plan, quiz, homework assignment and videos are available at: http://www.donatelifenc.org/content/materials-educators as free downloads or you may order free hard copies through Donate Life NC, including a "Stories of Hope" DVD featuring four videos for classroom use.

Rack cards, informational handouts, posters and educational DVDs are available to teachers and other community leaders free of charge through Carolina Donor Services. Please call or email us with your request at 1-800-200-2672 or info@carolinadonorservices.org. Please contact us at least two weeks in advance to allow time for shipping.

Say, "Yes." Stories of Hope through Organ and Tissue Donation (DVD)
Carolina Donor Services' educational DVD entitled Say, "Yes" highlights the heartfelt stories of three North Carolina families who’ve been touched by donation: Kara Thio, who had a lifesaving transplant when she was only eight months old, tells the story of her transplant along with her mother, Victoria. Emmitt and Charlotte Ray, whose son Jason, the UNC mascot, gave the precious gift of organ and tissue donation share the huge impact Jason’s decision made. Finally, Larry Bordeaux and his wife and teenage son, share what life is like for them as Larry continues to wait more than a decade for a liver transplant. Common misconceptions are also highlighted in order to dispel the myths about donation. Facts such as what can be donated, the first-person consent law, and ways to register as a donor in North Carolina are also covered.

Ray of Hope (DVD)
"Ray of Hope" is the poignant story about Jason Ray, the University of North Carolina mascot who died during the NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament after he was hit by a car before a game. Ray was an organ and tissue donor, and this story produced by ESPN, details how one tragedy changed the lives of five families.

Decision: Donation - School Program
Decision: Donation is an instructional package for high schools that was created by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. It envisioned educating the nation's youth about the importance of organ and tissue donation and the need to make an informed decision about donation and share it with their families.

For more information about these materials visit http://www.organdonor.gov.

Decision donation manual (PDF file)

College Programs
Carolina Donor Services is currently involved with several programs designed to raise awareness about donation on college campuses. For example, the National Donation Campus Challenge is a program sponsored by the US Department of Health and Human Services, Health Resources and Services Administration, the campaign brings together National Partners, organ and tissue donation organizations, and Campus Partners - universities, colleges, and other post-secondary campuses to help educate employees and campus communities on the importance of organ, eye and tissue donation. Campuses that have participated are Guilford Tech, Pitt Community College, Surry Community College and North Carolina Central University.

For information on PDF files and for instructions on installing the free Adobe Acrobat Reader, please go to the Adobe Web site.