American Transplant Foundation

American Transplant Foundation welcomes Kyle Pietari

Posted on 15. Aug, 2011 in Announcements, Connections: A Blog about Life!

American Transplant Foundation is proud to welcome Kyle Pietari as the new Outreach and External Affairs Coordinator! Kyle will take over the communications and volunteer program duties for Katie Cicerchi, who is leaving the Foundation to pursue new opportunities after more than three years of service.

We are excited to have Kyle join our team. Here’s a message from Kyle:

Kyle on a recent trip to Nepal

Greetings Transplant Community!  I am ecstatic to be a part of the American Transplant Foundation.  It’s truly a thrill to begin working for such an effective organization, and to know that what we all accomplish together will not only save and enhance people’s lives in the short-term, but also help to improve America’s transplant system for the future.

In June, 2011 I moved to Denver where I was introduced to the American Transplant Foundation.  When I first learned about the Foundation, I was shocked by just how little I knew about the issue of organ and tissue donation.  Reading through the website and hearing personal stories from people who have been impacted by transplant made me realize how this issue deserves so much more attention than it gets.  My background is in advocacy and community organizing around environmental issues, and while I remain passionate about conservation and other areas of social justice, I believe that the transplant community is a place where we can really make strides in the coming years to help those in need.  And who knows–at any time, either a loved one or I, myself, could find out that we need a transplant.  This issue affects everyone, and I am proud to join those working to solve it.  Anyone who needs a transplant should be able to get it, and I know that together we can make that happen.

-Kyle Pietari

Please join us in welcoming Kyle by leaving a comment below.

Celebrate Life Party (Part II)

Posted on 08. Aug, 2011 in Uncategorized

Join us on Sunday, October 2nd at The Celtic Tavern and Delaneys Bar in Denver, Colorado from 3 to 8 PM for a special party to raise money for the American Transplant Foundation’s Patient Assistance Program!

In 2010, Denver Police Detective Danny Veith donated a kidney to Ed, a fellow detective who would have been forced into early retirement due to kidney failure. Their friends threw them a party they called “Celebrate Life” at The Celtic Tavern to help raise money to cover Danny’s time away from work and Ed’s out-of-pocket medical expenses. Now, a little over a year after the successful transplant, Danny and Laura, a coworker who was inspired to become an anonymous kidney donor, are throwing another party, “Celebrate Life Part II,” to raise money for our Patient Assistance Program and to tell people more about living kidney donation.

There will be food, games, bagpipes, and Irish step dancing, all for a $5 donation at the door. We hope to see you there!

Learn more about living donation.

DaVita Kidney Rock

Posted on 08. Aug, 2011 in Community Calendar, Past Events

American Transplant Foundation was proud to sponsor the DaVita Kidney Rock 5K on August 6, 2011. Volunteers Anne and Kevin staffed our booth in the Kidney Health Zone to educate attendees about kidney transplantation as a treatment for renal failure and to encourage everyone to register as an organ and tissue donor.

Currently, more than 89,000 of the 111,000 people waiting for transplants are waiting for kidney transplants. One in six Americans has chronic kidney disease (CKD), which can lead to end stage renal failure requiring dialysis or transplant.

The DaVita Kidney Rock was a great event with music, free kidney screenings provides by the Kidney TRUST, trivia, prizes, and more. Thanks to everyone who came out to raise awareness for kidney disease and kidney failure and to show support for patients facing CKD.

Join us August 8th for the Donors Rock Ride!

Posted on 04. Aug, 2011 in Announcements, Connections: A Blog about Life!, Team Transplant

We just got word that the Donors Rock Ride will be in Colorado on Monday, August 8th! Please join us at BikeSource in Highlands Ranch at 7 a.m. Monday for this special ride for organ and tissue donation.

David Landsberg of the Society for Organ Donor Awareness launched the national Donors Rock Ride in Texas on July 4, 2011, the anniversary of his kidney transplant. David is cycling 50 miles in 50 states in 50 days to raise awareness for organ and tissue donation! (The map of his journey is available here.) He will complete the Colorado portion of his ride on August 8th when he will ride in 10 mile loops to accommodate cyclists of all abilities. Read a message from David.

Kidney Transplant Recipient Riding Bicycle Across Country in ‘Donor’s Rock’ Ride: MyFoxDC.com

We invite all Team Transplant members and supporters to join us in support of David and his journey. We know it’s early, but we hope that many of you will come to show your support for the Gift of Life! You and your family can join David on all or a portion of his ride, or just come to meet him. Our partner Donor Alliance has invited local media to cover this exciting event.

Please wear Team Transplant or Donate Life gear if you have it!

Donors Rock Ride Details

Monday, August 8th at 7:00 a.m.

Please R.S.V.P. by emailing katie@americantransplantfoundation.org so we know to expect you.

One worry, lifted

Posted on 27. Jul, 2011 in Connections: A Blog about Life!, Transplant Leadership Council

When you make a donation in honor or in memory of friends and loved ones, your money goes directly to transplant patients in order to help them with medical expenses and transplant-related costs. Through the Patient Assistance Program, the American Transplant Foundation is giving hope to transplant patients in need.

We recently received the following messages from two individuals who were involved in Patient Assistance Grants made this year. We’d like to share them with you so that you can see the impact your donations have on patients’ lives.

From the wife of a transplant recipient:

“Thank you for your support.  You kindness will never be forgotten…Foundations like yours and people like you serve as a beacon of light in times of darkness for those like us who truly need help.”

-MH, June 5, 2011

From a social worker assisting a kidney recipient:

“I can’t thank the American Transplant Foundation enough for their recent assistance.  As a social worker, I have many different resources to pull from when a patient has a crisis and my job is to utilize those resources and work with the patient to come up with a plan to solve whatever problem has arisen.  However, recently I had a patient that was not eligible for any of the programs that I usually turn to and was very close to losing his kidney transplant. (more…)

Celebrating Life: Team Transplant 2011 Video

Posted on 26. Jul, 2011 in Connections: A Blog about Life!, Team Transplant

We had a wonderful time at the Subaru Elephant Rock last month raising awareness for organ and tissue donation and celebrating the lives saved through transplantation. We’ve compiled some of the video footage and photos from the day to share with you the inspiring stories of our riders. Let us know what you think!

Volunteer Party: A small token of appreciation

Posted on 26. Jul, 2011 in Past Events, Photos, Team Transplant, Volunteering

On July 19th, we invited Team Transplant volunteers to a special get together at Rack and Rye Gastropub to thank them for dedicating their time to make the 2011 event such a success. The value of their 150 volunteer hours was worth more than $3,200 to the Foundation! Special thanks to Paul Piciocchi and Rack and Rye for hosting us at their wonderful restaurant.

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12th Annual Donor Dash

Posted on 18. Jul, 2011 in Community Calendar, Events, Past Events

We had a great time sponsoring and participating in our partner Donor Alliance’s Donor Dash on July 17th in Denver! The Donor Dash is a 5K run/walk to honor the lives of organ and tissue donors, celebrate the lives of organ and tissue recipients and recognize those who continue to wait for a lifesaving transplant. More than 20 people represented the Foundation as part of our team at this event including several transplant recipients and living donors.

Congratulations to Donor Alliance for hosting the largest Donor Dash ever with more than 4,000 race participants!

American Transplant Foundation Launches Young Professionals Group, the “Transplant Leadership Council,” with Event at The Jet Hotel

Posted on 14. Jul, 2011 in News Releases, Transplant Leadership Council

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – July 14, 2011

Contact: Anastasia Darwish, anastasia@americantransplantfoundation.org, 303.757.0959

AMERICAN TRANSPLANT FOUNDATION LAUNCHES YOUNG PROFESSIONALS GROUP, THE “TRANSPLANT LEADERSHIP COUNCIL,” WITH EVENT AT THE JET HOTEL

(DENVER, COLO.)—The American Transplant Foundation celebrated the launch of its new young professionals group, the Transplant Leadership Council (TLC), with a party at The Jet Hotel in downtown Denver, Colorado on June 28, 2011. More than 40 young professionals and supporters attended to learn more about the Council, which provides emergency financial assistance for transplant patients in need.

During the cocktail party, guests heard remarks from Steve Farber, kidney recipient and founder of the American Transplant Foundation, Brian Cerise, a living kidney donor and TLC member, and Brad Farber and Susan Fakharzadeh, two of the Transplant Leadership Council’s Founding Co-Chairs, about how their lives have been touched by organ and tissue donation and how the Council will directly benefit patients. (more…)

Transplant Leadership Council Kick Off

Posted on 11. Jul, 2011 in Events, Past Events, Photos, Transplant Leadership Council

The American Transplant Foundation launched its new young professionals group, the Transplant Leadership Council, with a party at The Jet Hotel in downtown Denver on June 28, 2011. More than 40 young professionals and supporters attended to learn more about the Council, which provides emergency financial assistance to transplant patients in need.

During the party, guests enjoyed cocktails and hors d’oeuvres and got to hear from Steve Farber, kidney recipient and Founder of the American Transplant Foundation, Brian Cerise, a living kidney donor and Council member, and Brad Farber and Susan Fakharzadeh, two of the Transplant Leadership Council’s Founding Co-Chairs, about how their lives have been touched by organ and tissue donation and how the Council will directly benefit patients. Special thanks to the 23 individuals who have become Founding Members of the Council, pledging to raise more than $15,000 for the Patient Assistance Program in 2011!

Learn more about the Transplant Leadership Council.

Photographs by Mike Neville of M.P.N. Photography. All rights reserved.

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