Assemblyman Jake Blumencranz joins with Syosset student Ava Walia to improve organ donation rates in New York
Teaming up to support organ donation
A new organ donation bill in New York State has been put together with the help of a surprising advocate—a 12-year-old girl from Syosset. Ava Walia, whose grandfather passed away from kidney disease, has partnered with New York State Assemblyman Jake Blumencranz to craft the “New York Saves Lives Act,” which seeks to increase organ donation rates in the state.
Ava explained that her advocacy began after witnessing her grandfather’s struggle.
“After my grandpa passed away from kidney disease, I wanted to create a platform to raise awareness about organ donation,” Ava said. “The waiting list for a kidney can be seven to ten years. If more people were donors, maybe he would have had a second chance.”
Ava met Blumencranz at a community event and approached him with her idea. Blumencranz was immediately impressed by the young advocate’s passion and dedication to the cause.
“Ava is an incredibly bright and impressive individual,” Blumencranz said. “She came up to me and explained that as part of her role in the Royal Miss Sweetheart competition, she had chosen to advocate for organ donation in honor of her grandfather.”
Blumencranz invited Ava to his office to brainstorm how they could tackle New York’s low organ donation rates, particularly in Nassau County, where they claim the numbers are even lower than the statewide average. Together, they developed the New York Saves Lives Act, a piece of legislation that seeks to improve educational outreach about organ donation and provide more opportunities for residents to register as donors.
“We wanted to increase the number of opportunities for young people to become organ donors,” Blumencranz explained. “Right now, many individuals are only asked once—at the DMV when they get their driver’s license—if they want to be organ donors. But with more people delaying getting their license or not driving at all, we saw a need to offer another way.”
The bill, which has been referred to the Assembly’s Higher Education Committee, would require that all applications to SUNY and CUNY schools include an option to register as an organ donor. It would also add organ donation education to the state’s curriculum, similar to how blood donation is already taught.
For Ava, this legislation is deeply personal. Her grandfather’s long struggle with kidney disease showed her just how important organ donation can be.
“When he came back from Indiana after getting a liver transplant, it gave him a few more years with us,” Ava shared. “But when he needed a kidney, the waiting list was too long.”
Her grandfather’s battle with organ failure inspired her to raise awareness of the need for more donors, not just for kidneys, but for other organs like hearts, lungs, and livers.
“I feel like if more people become donors, it could save so many lives,” Ava said. “That’s why I’m so passionate about this.”
New York’s organ donation rates are among the lowest in the country, and Blumencranz believes that educating people early and giving them more opportunities to register will help reverse that trend.
“New York’s numbers are shockingly low when it comes to people signing up for the organ donor registry,” Blumencranz said. “This bill is about making it easier to register and making sure young people understand how important it is.”
Blumencranz and Ava’s work hasn’t gone unnoticed. Their efforts have taken them from Albany to the White House, where they participated in the annual Easter Egg Roll earlier this year as part of a broader push for educational initiatives.
“It was incredible to see Ava in her element, advocating for organ donation on a national stage,” Blumencranz recalled.
Ava’s advocacy has even extended beyond the bill. She has published a book, “Ava and Grandpa Harjeet’s Journey,” which details her grandfather’s battle with kidney disease and is available on ebay. The proceeds from the book go to Donate Life, an organization dedicated to promoting organ donation.
When asked about her experience working on the bill and advocating for organ donation, Ava said she feels proud and grateful for the opportunity to make a difference.
“I love helping people, and I’m so proud to be able to do something that could save lives,” she said. “This isn’t just something I have to do—it’s something I want to do.”
Blumencranz echoed her sentiments, expressing his pride in working with Ava and watching the next generation of leaders step up to improve their communities.
“Ava completely embodies what it means to be a young advocate,” he said. “She wanted to make a change, and she’s doing it. I think it’s incredibly important to empower young people who want to be part of the process, and Ava has been an inspiration to everyone who’s worked with her.”
