LiveOnNY to host inaugural Luminaries & Legacies celebration honoring leaders in organ donation and transplantation. Apr 10, 2026, 12:10 ET Honoring Dr. Robert Montgomery with inaugural 2026 Luminary Award; recognizing NYC metro-area hospitals with the Legacies Award NEW YORK, April 10, 2026 /PRNewswire/ - LiveOnNY will host its inaugural Luminaries & Legacies on Thursday, April 16, 2026, at 6:00 PM at 22 Vanderbilt, 335 Madison Avenue in New York City. The event will bring together leaders from across the organ donation and transplant community to recognize exceptional collaboration, celebrate innovation, and reflect on the shared mission of saving and improving lives through organ donation. The event will recognize Robert A. Montgomery, MD, DPhil, the H. Leon Pachter, MD, Professor of Surgery, chair of the Department of Surgery at NYU Grossman School of Medicine, and director of the NYU Langone Transplant Institute, as the inaugural LiveOnNY 2026 Luminary. Dr. Montgomery is honored for his enduring influence and visionary leadership in advancing innovation, equity, and access across organ donation and transplantation. "Dr. Montgomery's contribution to both the communities of New York and the world at large is immeasurable as a humanitarian, leader, researcher and physician and we are honored to present this recognition to him," said Leonard Achan, LiveOnNY President and CEO. "His work reflects the best practice of collaboration, scientific vision and a deep moral commitment which has enabled more people to live fuller, healthier lives." During the evening, LiveOnNY will present the 2025 LiveOnNY Legacies Award to hospitals in the New York metropolitan region, recognizing their measurable impact in advancing organ donation and their collaboration in honoring the wishes of donor heroes. The 2025 Legacies Award recipients include Garnet Health Medical Center, NewYork-Presbyterian/Columbia University Irving Medical Center, South Shore University Hospital, a Northwell Health facility, Stony Brook University Hospital, and Westchester Medical Center. In addition, select individuals from those hospitals will receive the LiveOnNY Donor Champion Award, the organization's highest honor recognizing unwavering dedication to advancing organ donation and supporting donor families. "Luminaries & Legacies is an opportunity to celebrate the extraordinary dedication and impact that make organ donation possible," said Achan. "Every day, hospitals, clinicians, and advocates across our region work tirelessly to honor the gift of life and bring hope to the thousands of patients waiting for a transplant." Proceeds from the event will support the LiveOnNY Foundation, which advances programs that strengthen organ donation awareness, support donor families, and invest in the next generation of healthcare leaders through initiatives such as its annual scholarship program for students pursuing careers in health and human services. ABOUT LIVEONNY FOUNDATION The LiveOnNY Foundation supports education and awareness of the lifesaving impact of organ and tissue donation and programs benefitting both donor families and transplant patients through their journeys. ABOUT LIVEONNY LiveOnNY is a federally designated organ procurement organization (OPO) committed to honoring, saving, and transforming lives through organ and tissue donation. Established in 1978, LiveOnNY collaborates with more than 100 area hospitals, providing support to donor families and transplant recipients. The OPO serves a diverse population of 13 million people of New York City and Nassau, Suffolk, Westchester, Orange, Putnam, Dutchess, and Rockland counties. Recognized as one of the nation's top-performing OPOs, LiveOnNY and the people of New York have increased organ donation by 85% over the past five years. To learn more, visit LiveOnNY.org SOURCE LiveOnNY

LiveOnNY launches targeted public service campaign to increase organ donor registration across New York. Mar 26, 2026, 13:00 ET New campaign debuts during New York Mets Opening Day and expands statewide to address persistent gap between organ donation need and donor registration NEW YORK, March 26, 2026 /PRNewswire/ - LiveOnNY, the federally designated organ procurement organization for the New York metropolitan area, today announced the launch of a new public service campaign to increase organ donor registrations and address the persistent gap between need and participation. LiveOnNY ensures that every opportunity for lifesaving organ donation is realized and that organs are recovered and placed for transplantation. The need for organ donors is more urgent than ever. Today, over 100,000 Americans are waiting for a lifesaving transplant, with kidneys accounting for more than 80% of that total. In the New York metropolitan area, one of the lowest in the nation for donor registrations, approximately 8,000 people are currently waiting for a transplant, including nearly 7,000 in need of a kidney. Every day, lives hang in balance, underscoring the critical importance of registering as an organ donor and the profound difference one person can make. Each day, the gap between those waiting and those registered translates directly into preventable loss of life. This is not an abstract issue - it is a function of participation. Developed by LiveOnNY in collaboration with DeVito/Verdi, the campaign brings renewed attention to the lifesaving impact of organ donation and the critical need for more registered donors. The emotionally compelling television spot captures the many dimensions of the organ donation journey - from the deep human connections to the uncertainty and urgency faced by patients awaiting a transplant. Set within a hospital, the public service campaign centers on patients in need of a life-saving organ, as family members and loved ones deliver a somber and deeply moving rendition of the 1980s hit song, "Holding Out for a Hero" by Bonnie Tyler. By reimagining the iconic song in this intimate and emotional context, the spot underscores the reality faced by thousands waiting for a transplant - individuals holding onto hope for a hero to step forward and give the gift of life. "We've seen how vital LiveOnNY is to those awaiting a donation and the urgency of making this happen," said Ellis Verdi, President of DeVito/Verdi. "This campaign will continue to make a life-saving difference for countless New Yorkers desperately waiting for a hero to step up." The television commercial launches as LiveOnNY continues to expand its "Life. Pass It On." public service campaign, which first debuted in October 2024. Since its initial rollout, the campaign - recipient of multiple honors, including 10 ADDY Awards from the American Advertising Federation - has expanded with new iterations across transit systems throughout New York, helping raise awareness and spark meaningful conversations about organ donation. New print placements will roll out across key commuter corridors, including Metro-North Railroad and the Long Island Railroad beginning April 13, with additional placements in New York City subways launching May 25. All transit campaigns are scheduled to run through the end of the year. The print campaign is designed not only to inspire individuals to register as organ donors, but also to highlight the urgent need for more donors in New York. For example, one reads: "In a city of transplants, you'd think it would be easier to find one," with a simple subhead: "Be an organ donor." "Organ donation is not a passive concept - it is an action," said Leonard Achan, President and CEO of LiveOnNY. "This campaign is designed to convert awareness into registration, because registration is what saves lives. Every registered donor increases the likelihood that someone waiting will receive a transplant." Following the launch of the "Life. Pass It On." campaign in late 2024, LiveOnNY achieved the highest two-month transplant volume in its history, with 299 organs transplanted between January and February 2025, a 44% increase compared to the same period in 2024. During that same timeframe, hospital referrals increased by 34%, demonstrating measurable gains in system engagement. Registering as an organ donor takes less than one minute and can be completed through the New York State Donate Life Registry. Individuals may also register when obtaining or renewing a driver's license through the Department of Motor Vehicles. About LiveOnNY LiveOnNY is the federally designated organ procurement organization for the New York metropolitan area. LiveOnNY ensures that every opportunity for lifesaving organ donation is realized and that organs are recovered and placed for transplantation. Serving more than 13 million people across New York City and Nassau, Suffolk, Westchester, Orange, Putnam, Dutchess, and Rockland counties, LiveOnNY works with over 100 hospitals to ensure that organ donation is carried out in accordance with federal and state requirements. Recognized as one of the nation's top-performing organ procurement organizations, LiveOnNY and the people of New York have increased organ donation by 85% over the past five years, including significant growth in the recovery and placement of medically complex organs. For more information or to register as an organ donor, visit LiveOnNY.org. About DeVito/Verdi DeVito/Verdi is a privately held company that has been recognized as one of the most exceptional creative agencies in the industry. It has been voted "Best Agency" six times by the advertising industry group, the 4As, and has created some of the most memorable ad campaigns of the past 35 years. Its lengthy list of industry awards includes the top prizes at the Clios, Radio Mercury, Cannes, Andy, Addy and One Show award ceremonies. SOURCE LiveOnNY