Gift of Life Donor Program

If your organization is looking to connect with thousands of people, we have the perfect opportunity! The 28th Annual Gift of Life Donor Dash is Sunday, April 27 at Navy Yard Philadelphia and once again, Gift of Life is hosting a Community Resource Village for non-profits and government agencies. This is a chance to interact with an engaged, active audience and support the life-saving cause of organ donation. Last year’s Donor Dash drew more than 15,000 attendees and extensive media coverage. Act fast! Applications are due by March 17. Learn more and apply for a spot in the Community Resource Village: https://lnkd.in/en7Q3pCF

March is National Kidney Month! Now through March 8, Gift of Life is offering $2 off Donor Dash registration with code KIDNEY to remind everyone of the two simple tests you can get done to test your kidney health: a blood test known as the estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) and a urine test known as the urine albumin-creatinine ratio (uACR). Join Gift of Life at the scenic and spacious Navy Yard Philadelphia on Sunday, April 27 for the 28th Annual Donor Dash. This is the BIGGEST and BEST Dash yet as we commemorate 50 years of saving lives. There’s an option for everyone from the 10K and 5K runs to the 3K walk. Learn more and register: donordash.org

Wishing many blessings for all who are observing the holy month of #Ramadan. May this special time of fasting and reflection bring renewal, fulfillment and peace. All major religions support organ donation as the ultimate act of generosity and charity. You can learn more and sign up to save lives at donors1.org

February is American Heart Month. You could give the gift of a healthy heart to someone on the waitlist. Register as an organ donor at donors1.org Ashlen Moss is alive thanks to the extraordinary gift of a new heart from Robb and Katherine Kerr’s beloved son, Jared. Ashlen will be participating in the 28th Annual Donor Dash on Sunday, April 27 in honor of Jared and the gift of life he gave her. “I’m so grateful to be able to run in the Donor Dash in Jared’s honor. He and his parents completely changed my life,” said Ashlen, who is now thriving and an avid runner after being diagnosed with heart failure as a teenager. Join Ashlen and the Kerrs at the 28th Annual Donor Dash on April 27 and celebrate the life-saving power of organ donation. Sign up today at donordash.org YOU have the power to save lives. Honor Gift of Life’s 50 year legacy of saving lives and register as an organ donor today at donors1.org

Gift of Life is thankful for our dedicated volunteer ambassadors. These organ donation advocates spread our life-saving message throughout the community. The Volunteer Ambassador Summit, held each February, is a chance to thank our passionate supporters and collaborate on upcoming goals and plans. This year’s summit coincided with Gift of Life’s 50-years of life-saving service to the community, making it extra special. Temple Health – Temple University Health System double-lung recipient Shawn Doyle shared his transplant story, part of his “Storytelling 101” session. While Shawn was in the hospital, his wife Rachael stayed at Gift of Life Howie's House and greatly appreciated the home-cooked meals and shuttle rides to and from the hospital. Attendees also heard from various Gift of Life speakers, including President & CEO Rick Hasz and Chief Administrative Officer & General Counsel Jan Weinstock. Interested in volunteering? Learn more and apply at www.donors1.org/volunteer

“There’s not a day that goes by when I don’t think about my donor.” Scott Burroughs has turned those thoughts into action as an inspiring advocate after receiving a life-saving heart transplant in 2020. His mission to increase organ donor awareness, in honor of his donor hero, extends from local gatherings to the Donor Dash - Gift of Life’s biggest event that draws 15,000 people. Scott played football throughout high school and college but didn’t run a 5K until after his transplant. Now, he runs in Gift of Life’s Donor Dash each year and was featured on our four-story building banner promoting the Dash last spring. Once quiet, the devoted husband and father shares his story at church and community events throughout our region. Scott still remembers the call that led to his second chance at life – a time when simply walking up a flight of stairs left him weak and out of breath. “We have a heart,” said the caller from Penn Medicine, University of Pennsylvania Health System. “How soon can you get here?” Days later, he was back home recuperating with the support of his wife Tracye, his rock through their transplant journey. We thank Scott and Tracye for sharing their story with Gift of Life staff in honor of National Heart Month and for supporting our mission to end the transplant waitlist Help give hope to families like the Burroughs when you sign up to become an organ donor. Honor Gift of Life’s 50 years of life-saving service and join our campaign to register 50,000 more organ donors at donors1.org/register

Members of Gift of Life Donor Program’s world-class team are sharing their expertise at the 50th NATCO Annual Meeting, which coincides with our 50th anniversary commemoration. Our distinguished presenters will share research and best practices on timely topics including donor family support, hospital education and state-of-the-art organ preservation technologies, including normothermic regional perfusion (NRP), to increase the number of life-saving organs for transplants. As a leader who provided the most kidneys for transplant in the U.S. for the past nine consecutive years, and the most overall in U.S. history, Gift of Life experts will also share the successful strategies it has used to address the national priority of increasing kidney utilization. Continuing Gift of Life’s 50-year tradition of clinical excellence are our NATCO presenters: Advanced Practice Coordinators Jocelyn Berg, Lauren Hall, Marie Magyar, Gabriel Oprea and Diane Ray, Hospital Services Coordinators Debbie Cotellese and Breanna Noonan, Hospital Services Manager Jacki Giuffrida, Transplant Coordinator Anna Haas, Transplant Coordinator Manager Julia Drummond and Transplant Information Center Clinical Night Supervisor Allison Griffin. NATCO - The Organization for Donation and Transplant Professionals includes two Gift of Life staff in leadership roles: Advance Practice Coordinator Brittany Lyons and Transplant Information Center Director John Clarke. As president-elect, Brittany will become NATCO president at next year’s meeting; John serves as a councilor-at-large on the board of directors. The work of our exceptional, dedicated team continues until every waitlist patient receives a second chance at life. Join us in saving lives and advancing donation! Browse job openings: https://ow.ly/vXQn50V5GKI

Today is #NationalCaregiversDay. We celebrate and recognize the tireless support, compassion and strength that transplant caregivers provide to their loved ones throughout the entirety of the transplant journey. Support transplant patients and families by registering as an organ donor at donors1.org. Kelly Brown has been the primary caregiver to her son, Matt, for more than 10 years. Matt received a heart transplant at just 5 years old in 2014. The two stayed at Gift of Life Howie's House during his transplant and return for follow-up appointments. Kelly has provided love, strength and support every step of Matt’s journey. We applaud caregivers like her for their unwavering and dedicated care of loved ones. You have the power to save the lives. Give the gift of life to someone like Matt by registering as an organ donor. Join us in honoring 50-years of lifesaving work and register at donors1.org

“The Gift of Life College Challenge allowed me to develop my skills as a communications professional and promote a cause I am passionate about, organ donation. My name is Kaitlyn Lathrop, and as president of Widener University PRSSA chapter, I led our first College Challenge campaign my junior year. Through this experience, our chapter was able to share information about organ donation with students, host testimonial events from transplant recipients and work together with other campus organizations as we encouraged students and faculty to register as organ donors. Not only has this experience proved to be influential for the organizers of this event, but it has left a continuous impact on students who interacted with the campaign. Spreading awareness about organ donation through the College Challenge informs students and empowers them to save lives! Register for this year’s College Challenge today!” Make an impact like Kaitlyn and you can even win cash prizes. Sign up at www.donors1.org/college

Gift of Life is thrilled to welcome, from left, In-House Coordinators Huanchi Chen, Samantha Williams, Michelle Hu and Sidney Gonzalez-DiGenio to our internationally renowned organization. Our staff has the opportunity to contribute every day to helping save and enhance lives! Since 1974, more than two million lives have been saved and transformed by organ and tissue donation thanks to Gift of Life’s dedicated staff and generous community. Join us and help save lives. If you are interested in applying, email rmendoza@donors1.org. See all current openings: https://ow.ly/YluC50V2m7P