A group of University of Florida students is urging other students, faculty and staff to 'Get Carded'. The UF campus has been awarded Get Carded, an educational campaign sponsored by the Florida Coalition on Donation, whose goal is to teach the facts about organ and tissue donation. The campaign was executed on the UF campus in April, following the lead of other universities.

In 1997, a small group of University of Central Florida students joined with their local organ donor program to launch Get Carded. Since the program's start, the University of South Florida and Florida Atlantic University have adopted the program as well. UF is the fourth campus to implement the campaign. The Florida Coalition on Donation guides the program's expansion and provides campaign materials.

"The Florida Coalition on Donation is truly fortunate to have the University of Florida join us as our newest Get Carded campus," said Carol Rumsey, Florida Coalition on Donation spokeswoman. "UF student leaders have impressed us with their commitment, dedication and service to the cause of organ and tissue donation. We look forward to the ways these students will make Get Carded a program unique to UF."

The campaign's student organizers rallied campus support for donation through special events, news articles, presentations and ongoing promotion. The group presented the facts of donation and let students know how they can help save the lives of others.

During the spring Get Carded activities, the students distributed more than 1,000 donor cards and received more than 290 signed pledge cards, signifying those who promised to talk to their family members about their choice to be donors. The Get Carded team achieved numerous media placements in university and local newspapers, and with radio and television stations.

The Get Carded campaign encourages students to do two things to help in the cause. First, "Get Carded" by making a commitment to donate life, signing and carrying a donor card and sharing the decision with family members. Second, "Get Involved" by encouraging others to donate, distributing donor cards or brochures and volunteering yourself, your club or your student organization for events and activities.

Erin Thompson, public relations coordinator at Southeast Tissue Alliance, serves as campaign liaison between the group of students and professionals at the Florida Coalition on Donation and Southeast Tissue Alliance. Thompson headed up a similar campaign at UF during the spring of 2001 as an undergraduate and will continue these education efforts as a graduate student during future semesters.

"Campaigns like Get Carded are so important because they give us the chance to interact one-on-one with students, while educating them on the importance of organ and tissue donation," Thompson said. "Our main goal is to communicate what a special, unique opportunity this is - the opportunity to save lives."

In an effort to include the entire UF campus in the Get Carded mission, the students made presentations to about 20 student organizations throughout the spring semester and conducted speaking engagements and special events.

The campaign has broadened its involvement on campus during the fall 2002 semester to include Homecoming parade participation, a booth at the UF Alumni Barbecue, a Donor Decision Day and presentations to student groups, sororities and fraternities. The campaign members also are looking for more volunteers to help their cause, so an internal focus is recruitment.

The UF Get Carded team and Southeast Tissue Alliance have been working with students from Florida State University and the University of North Florida to help expand the program throughout the state.