Esperanza Inspires Communities to Recognize Their Power to Save Lives

SAN ANTONIO, Texas - Texas Organ Sharing Alliance (TOSA), the organ procurement organization serving Central and South Texas, is offering hope through a campaign and mural dedicated to inspiring minority communities to recognize the power within them to save lives.

The campaign is called Da Esperanza, Da Vida which means Give Hope, Give Life. This was created to offer hope to the thousands of people on the transplant waiting list. The initiative also educates Texans about the importance of being registered donors with Donate Life Texas.

TOSA's efforts are part of National Minority Donor Awareness Month (NMDAM), which started on August 1. In Texas, more than 10,000 children and adults need an organ transplant and while more than half of those people are from minority communities, minorities only represent a small percentage of registered donors.

The Esperanza mural can be seen in TOSA's headquarters. It was painted by San Antonio artist Crystal Tamez in 2021. Esperanza, or Hope in English, portrays people from multicultural communities who have donated or are waiting to receive a donation.

“ National Minority Donor Awareness Month allows us to drive messages that create a positive culture for organ, eye and tissue donation in minority communities," said TOSA President & CEO Joseph Nespral. "It is a beautiful celebration of the power of organ donation and shows that as a community we can save and heal lives."

The need for organ donation and transplantation is more pronounced in minority communities. Higher rates of diabetes, high blood pressure and heart disease contribute to organ failure. Today, 43 percent of the patients on the waiting list in Texas are Hispanic while 24 percent are Black.

As part of the Esperanza campaign, TOSA will be participating in community activities in Central and South Texas to provide vital education to help individuals sign up and save lives.

Texans are encouraged to get the facts and sign up to Donate Life.