April is Organ Donation Month in Iowa

Iowa Donor Network raises flag to celebrate and raise awareness

Apr. 7, 2026 at 8:21pm

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A glowing neon outline of a human heart pulsing with energy against a dark background, conceptually representing the life-giving power of organ donation.The Iowa Donor Network's flag raising event highlights the life-saving potential of organ donation during Donate Life Month.Sioux City Today

April is 'Donate Life Month' in Iowa, and the Iowa Donor Network marked the occasion by raising a flag at Sioux City's UnityPoint St. Luke's offices on Monday. The Donor Network's John Jorgensen emphasized that organ donation benefits not just recipients, but many lives, noting that his own son was an organ donor. Jorgensen encouraged Iowans to register as organ donors, as there are currently over 600 Iowans and more than 104,000 Americans on waiting lists for organ transplants.

Why it matters

Organ donation can save and improve lives, but misconceptions remain about its impact. Raising awareness during Donate Life Month is crucial to growing the donor pool and reducing the backlog of those awaiting transplants.

The details

The Iowa Donor Network held a flag-raising ceremony at UnityPoint St. Luke's in Sioux City to mark Donate Life Month. The network's spokesperson, John Jorgensen, emphasized that organ donation benefits not just the recipient, but many lives that are impacted. Jorgensen shared that his own son was an organ donor. He encouraged Iowans to register as donors, noting that there are currently over 600 Iowans and more than 104,000 Americans on waiting lists for organ transplants.

  • The flag-raising ceremony took place on Monday, April 7, 2026.

The players

Iowa Donor Network

A non-profit organization that facilitates organ, eye, and tissue donation in Iowa.

John Jorgensen

A spokesperson for the Iowa Donor Network who shared his personal experience with his son's organ donation.

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What they’re saying

“There's a misconception that the donation only benefits the recipient.”

— John Jorgensen, Spokesperson, Iowa Donor Network

What’s next

The Iowa Donor Network will continue to promote organ donation awareness throughout April, which is Donate Life Month.

The takeaway

Organ donation can have a profound impact on many lives, but misconceptions remain. Events like the flag-raising ceremony help to educate the public and encourage more Iowans to register as donors, potentially saving hundreds of lives.