ConnectLife is the federally designated Organ Procurement Organization for the eight counties of WNY. Unyts works to assist donor families, coordinate the donation process and increase knowledge and awareness within the community regarding transplantation. ConnectLife had 1,754 organ, eye, and tissue, and birth tissue donors in 2018 who potentially saved & enhanced 89,000 lives.
ConnectLife routinely has helped to secure higher rates of donation in Western New York than the national average. When approached following the death of a loved-one for organ donation, Western New York families are very generous. In 2018, the ConnectLife authorization rate was 76% – while the national average was 63.2%. Due to these numbers, ConnectLife is ranked as one of the top procurement organizations nationwide.
The ConnectLife Community Blood Service was started in 2007 under the premise that local hospitals had long been seeking an alternative with regard to obtaining blood. A subsequent feasibility study found that a community blood bank organized through ConnectLife was the best alternative. Since the inception of the blood program ConnectLife has had over 211,000 presenting blood donors.
Today, ConnectLife’s blood center has become an integral part of WNY’s medical community, providing the best blood products possible when area hospitals are in need. ConnectLife is able to react and quickly and efficiently provide blood needed to save someone’s life. ConnectLife is the primary supplier of blood products to Kaleida Health, ECMC, Brooks-TLC Health Network, Eastern Niagara Hospital, Niagara Falls Memorial Medical Center, Olean General Hospital, Wyoming County Community Health System and Bradford Regional Medical Center. This accounts for over 75% of the blood needs in WNY.