Evan Kimball of West Branch was a freshman at Aquinas College and 18 years old with his life ahead of him. In 2015, he fell asleep at the wheel and his car hit a tree. After his fatal accident, his parents discovered that Evan was a registered organ donor. They contacted their family and friends to see if anyone was on the waitlist for an organ transplant. Seven responses came back. A total of four people, desperately in need of a life-saving transplant, received a directed donation from Evan. Evan’s donation ties the record for the highest number of directed donations in the county.

Evan’s story, like so many others, is a story of hope and lives saved. Increasing the number of Michiganians on the Organ Donor Registry has been a passion of mine. This is my last year as your Secretary of State and it has been a privilege to serve the people of Michigan. I am so proud of what we have accomplished.

When our administration first took office in 2011, only 27 percent of Michigan adults were registered organ donors. Now, in 2018, 64 percent are registered. We went from one of the worst states, to one of the best.

With the help of my friends in the legislature, we developed a policy that directed branch employees to invite customers to join the registry. This comes at no cost to taxpayers and has resulted in almost 3 million Michiganians joining the registry since our administration took office in 2011. Today, the Michigan Organ Donor Registry has an incredible 5 million names on it. That’s enough to fill Comerica Park 118 times.

There are currently 3,300 people waiting for a life saving transplant.

It only takes one conversation with an organ recipient or a moment alone with a family member of a donor to realize the magnitude of this cause. I’ve met a mother whose child’s heart now beats inside the chest of another child. She spoke to me of life going on because of her child’s gift. I’ve met a man who struggled everyday just to breathe. He now competes in races to honor his donor’s gift.

The people of our state have stepped forward like never before to join this community of hope. I am so proud of our state, our branch staff, and every person who has added their name to the Organ Donor Registry. This has been an incredible team effort for such a worthy endeavor.

The Registry is a confidential database that is maintained by the Michigan Secretary of State’s office and can only be accessed by Gift of Life Michigan and Eversight so these organizations can assist hospitals in the recovery and transplantation of organs, corneas and tissues.

If you would like to join the Registry, please visit your local branch office or register online at ExpressSOS.com.

Next time you renew your driver’s license, whether in our branches or online at ExpressSOS.com, please consider adding your name to this community of hope. You can leave a living legacy for those who so desperately need the gift of life.

RUTH JOHNSON is the Michigan Secretary of State.