Washington Gift of Life Award


The Washington Gift of Life Award is one of three statutory civilian decorations and awards issued by the state of Washington, the others being the Washington Medal of Merit and the Washington Medal of Valor. Washington law does not describe an order of precedence for state decorations, though the Washington Gift of Life Award is generally considered inferior to the Medal of Valor and Medal of Merit.
Created by an act of the Washington Legislature in 1998, the Washington Gift of Life Award is given posthumously to individuals whose organ donation has saved the life of another person. The award is presented in certificate form to surviving family members of the deceased recipient. Awards are issued by the Governor of Washington on the nomination of a U.S. Department of Health designated organ procurement organization serving the state of Washington. The authorizing legislation allows the award to be granted six times annually.