Republic Services promotes organ donation with trucks

When Marc Bacon, general manager, Republic Services/GDS of North Carolina, heard about a statewide campaign to promote organ donor awareness, he knew he wanted to be a part of it and offered support by using company trucks as moving billboards.

The program, initiated by the Rotary Club of Clemmons, North Carolina, recently won the 2009 Nicholas Miller Award for Excellence in Donor Family Support. This award, presented by the Musculoskeletal Transplant Foundation, honors those individuals or organizations who exhibit a commitment to donor families, or donor families who have been instrumental, through their loss, in increasing donor awareness.

The Rotary Club of Clemmons, North Carolina created the campaign to promote organ donor awareness and participation by placing compelling messages on the sides of tractor trailers. Their goal was to increase designations on driver’s licenses and online registries.

“Our trucks are in the communities we serve on a daily basis and are highly visible and the signage is getting great exposure,” said Mark. “We are proud to be part of this important project. It has enabled us to give back to the communities where we operate – truly a win-win.”

The moving billboards feature images of organ recipients and donor families that not only increases awareness, but provide an opportunity for the organ recipients to say “thank you” for their second chance at life.