Beech Tree News Network

After a successful return last year following a three-year hiatus due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Donate Life Kentucky is once again taking enrollments for this year’s 2023 High School Challenge. Drawing inspiration from the artistry and originality of Taylor Swift, this year's theme, "In Our Life-Saving Era," sets the tone for the impactful endeavors to come.

The Donate Life KY High School Challenge is a four-week competition to see which Kentucky High school club or group can complete the most activities. Their collective mission: to elevate awareness about the need for organ, tissue, and eye donation to save and heal lives.

Any club, team or group of students with a teacher/adult sponsor is welcome to sign up for this community service project here. Submissions are free and will be taken until September 20, 2023. The challenge begins October 1 and ends October 31, 2023.

 The winning groups will be determined by a point-based system. Those points are based on outreach activities and which school has the most new registrants on RegisterMe.org. Activities include registry drives, crafting commercials, art, school-wide assemblies and compelling social media posts.

The first-place prize of $1,000 will go to the club or group which completes the most awareness efforts. Additional winnings of $500 have been established for both groups or clubs who garner new names on the Donor Registry and have a standout social media effort.

“Eras and trends come and go, but the impact of organ donation is timeless,” says long-time Donate Life advocate Melissa Cardwell, Butler Co. Circuit Clerk. “With 17 people dying each day due to the lack of donated organs, the need for education and registrations is critical.”

There will be no losers in this competition as every student group will give hope to more than 100,000 children and adults in the US waiting on a lifesaving organ transplant.

“Everyone can register as an organ donor, there are no health or age limits to signing up,” explains Cardwell. “Promoting the Donate Life mission is a way to show our Butler County spirit of looking out for each other, especially in times of need."

For more information about the High School Challenge or if a school would like to become involved, visit bit.ly/hschallenge23 or contact Lauren Salyer, Community Educator, at [email protected].