One-third of all people in need of a heart or liver transplant die waiting. Tom Jorgensen, former Ames High School teacher and coach, was one of the lucky ones.

Jorgensen received a transplant because he had a rare liver disease that caused his liver to cease functioning. Most people wait six months to two years for an organ.

“I got mine quicker than most, in just six days,” he said.

Jorgensen, chairman of the State Education Committee for the Iowa Donor Network, will be the keynote speaker for Organ Donor Awareness Day, sponsored by the Public Relations Student Society of America.

PRSSA hopes to raise awareness about giving the gift of life from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. today on central campus. Jorgensen will be speaking at 10:30 a.m.

PRSSA decided to hold the event after hearing about a University of Georgia professor who was in need of a transplant, said Rebecca Hiler, co-coordinator of the event. The University of Georgia PRSSA is sponsoring a contest between several chapters nationally to see who can raise the most awareness.

The best chapters will receive awards, but the contest is secondary in the mind of the club members.

“We all know somebody who’s needed a transplant, and this brings it home and makes it relevant,” said Hiler, senior in journalism and sociology.

Hiler said one goal of the day is to encourage people to sign up for organ donation and write letters telling their parents of their interest in organ donation. She said many people do not realize being an organ donor on their driver’s license does not guarantee their families will donate the organs, she said.

Hiler said the national waiting list for an organ donation is 68,000 people, while only 5,800 families donated organs last year.

In Iowa, around 300 people are awaiting donations with just 52 families donating organs last year, Jorgensen said.

“People need to be informed about the topic, and it needs to be discussed openly,” Jorgensen said. He said that when people think of organ donation, it is generally correlated with death. Not only does organ donation save lives, it helps donor families get through a tragic loss.

To promote awareness and gather support for organ donation, events will be occurring throughout the day, Hiler said. Along with the keynote speech, players and coaches of the men’s and women’s basketball teams will be stopping by throughout the day to show their support.

Students can also sign up for ticket giveaways to upcoming events at the Maintenance Shop and the Iowa State Center. The organization also will be offering prizes to the groups with the highest number of participants throughout the day.

“It doesn’t matter if you’re a student leader or an ISU student. It’s important to know how you can give the gift of life,” Hiler said.