Assembly Majority Leader Crystal D. Peoples-Stokes was honored as Legislative Champion at the Donate Life New York State Appreciation Luncheon in Albany last week. The Kidney Foundation of WNY took part in the event, joining transplant recipients, donation professionals, advocates and supporters from many parts of the state in recognizing honorees.
In addition to her work on the state level, Peoples-Stokes has long worked to promote organ donation and kidney health locally. She has partnered with the Kidney Foundation of WNY to increase awareness about kidney disease and has hosted free community kidney health screenings.
Donate Life New York State (NYS) is a non-profit comprised of organ and tissue recovery organizations, health professionals and individuals whose lives have been affected by donation. It serves as the statewide liaison organization to Donate Life America, administers the state’s donor registry and engages in multifaceted public outreach campaigns to increase donor enrollment. Executive Director Aisha M. Tator noted that Peoples-Stokes has brought the organization and its need to the forefront of public policy and helped create change that benefits the lives of so many.
Assembly Majority Leader Crystal Peoples-Stokes is one of donation and transplant community’s greatest champions. Over the years, she played a vital role in supporting legislation expanding opportunities to enroll in the New York State Donate Life Registry.
Her advocacy is paving the way for New Yorkers to document this important lifesaving decision through the Higher Education Services Corporation applications and renewals for student aid, scholarships, grants and loan programs; and when applying for benefits online through the Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance.
In 2022, she advanced legislation requiring private health insurers contribute to growing enrollments in the New York State Donate Life Registry by incorporating the donor designation question in applications and annual renewals.
The Majority Leader has made it her mission to champion new and innovative “Doorways to Donation” and ensuring the need to increase the availability of organs and tissue for transplant is at the forefront of the New York State Legislature.