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Jesse Eisenberg has revealed that he has been bitten by the altruistic bug and will be donating his kidney to a stranger. The 42-year-old Oscar nominated actor has routinely donated blood over the years and has now stepped up his charitable side even more as he will be donating one of his kidneys to a stranger. He appeared on the TODAY show on Thursday morning as he said: 'I’m actually donating my kidney in six weeks. I really am.' Eisenberg was then asked why he would make such a bold but selfless decision and he did not really have an answer. The star replied: 'I don’t know why. I got bitten by the blood donation bug. I’m doing an altruistic donation (in) mid-December. I’m so excited to do it.' According to RWJ Barnabas Health, an altruistic donation is when a person donates a kidney to a person with advanced kidney disease whom he or she does not know. These certain individuals are identified as non-directed kidney donors because it is not a kidney for a specific family member, friend, or someone they know personally who is need of a kidney. No doubt this selfless act comes at a good time as there is currently an organ donor shortage in the US with about 90,000 on the transplant list who are waiting for a kidney alone according to the Health Resources and Services Administration as of September 2024. Eisenberg detailed to TODAY why he believes that others should consider making the same decision that he has as he said: 'It's essentially risk-free and so needed. 'I think people will realize that it's a no-brainer, if you have the time and the inclination.' The talented actor certainly has done his research on the matter as he described the process and how it will greatly benefit someone who needs it. Eisenberg explained: 'Let's say person X needs a kidney in Kansas City, (and) their child or whoever was going to donate to them is, for whatever set of reasons, not a match, but somehow I am. 'That person can still get my kidney and hopefully that child of that person still donates their kidney, right? But it goes to a bank where that person can find a match recipient, but it only works if there is basically an altruistic donor.
