(Left to right) Joliet Job Corps Center student Frederina Price, Illinois Secretary of State Jesse White and Driver's Education Instructor David Parker.

When Driver’s Education Instructor David Parker took a student to test for her learner’s permit on April 15, it was no ordinary day. Secretary of State Jesse White was at the facility.

The Joliet office was one of a few in Illinois hosting National Donate Life Day, an event to celebrate participation in the organ donation program.

Mr. White thanked everyone in the office who already had registered to be an organ donor. He then told inspiring stories of people enjoying improved lives because of the generosity of organ donors, mentioning that he also was an organ donor recipient.

Although there were two guest speakers who talked about how organ donation changed their lives, several people who were visiting the facility that day told Mr. White that they, too, were living extended lives because someone decided to be an organ donor.

Mr. Parker introduced the Secretary of State to Frederina Price, the student who was there to take the learner’s permit test. As they chatted, Mr. White said he remembered visiting the Joliet Job Corps Center and praised the services included in the Center’s program.