In the United States, we elect officials to serve our interests and protect our wellbeing. We all can contact our local leaders and share a moving story or important current event. By doing this, we make our priorities known and help form public policy.
Below you’ll find instructions and tools that will help you engage your local elected officials, and inspire the continued congressional support of Be The Match®. Federal support and funding is critical for Be The Match to continue adding people to the registry and helping patients with uninsured treatment costs and expenses – giving more patients hope for a transplant.
Contacting your Local Legislators and Representatives
First, find out who represents your district, as well as their contact information, by visiting our Advocacy Action Network - just enter your zip code into the "Find Your Elected Officials" tool at the bottom of the page. After you’ve obtained their contact information, you can use the various materials provided below to help advocate on behalf of Be The Match.
- Letter to your Legislator - Donor Request (MS Word) and Recipient Request (MS Word): Personal letters are an effective way to introduce an important topic to lawmakers. Be The Match’s template letters also are one way to secure a meeting so you can share your story in-person. Please tailor these templates to include your personal story in the relevant spaces before you send the letter to your representative.
- Call Script (PDF): After you’ve sent your personalized letter, follow-up with a call. A sample phone script will help guide your phone conversation. Ultimately, you’ll want to see if they are available and willing to meet with you so you can share your story in-person. If your local representative or a member of their staff is available, schedule a meeting and invite a Be The Match recruiter to attend. The recruiter will be able to add additional perspective to your meeting.
- In-person Meeting Outline (PDF): The following meeting outline will help you stay on track during your meeting. It contains tips to help the meeting go smoothly and key points to convey during your conversation.
- Social Media (PDF): Many elected officials also connect with their constituents using social media. Follow your legislators and respond to their messages to build connections. You can use the following social media message templates to help inform lawmakers about Be The Match’s life-saving mission.
- Letters to the Editor (MS Word): Be The Match advocates can get involved by sending tailored versions of the following letters-to-the-editor to their local media. To submit your letter, visit your local newspaper’s website. Then search for a “contact us” page, which should contain the publication’s preferred email address.
Questions for Be The Match Advocacy Action Center?
If you have any questions about ways to help inspire the continued congressional support for Be The Match, please contact a member of our advocacy team at legislation@nmdp.org.