Group photo with Founding Members of the TLC (Transplant Leadership Council)

On Tuesday, December 6th, 2011 Founding Members of the TLC (Transplant Leadership Council) met at Founding Co-Chair Brad Farber’s house for a holiday meeting and social. 16 people were in attendance.

The group took the opportunity to celebrate how far TLC has come in such a short period of time, reflecting on the number of patient’s lives TLC will impact with grants awarded through the Patient Assistance Program.

The most exciting piece of news was the announcement of a challenge grant awarded by The Monroe Group that will match funds raised by the first fifty TLC members, up to $500 per member. This means that each TLC member will be able to help at least two patients in need of emergency financial assistance. TLC helps patients by eliminating financial barriers for those who wish to become living organ donors and helping transplant recipients afford anti-rejection medications.

TLC’s first big, public event will be on February 25th in Denver. Save the date to have some fun while helping save lives!

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Event chair Steve Crider, living kidney donor; Steve's daughter Kelsey Crider, transplant recipient; Foundation Board Member Barry Hirschfeld

On Wednesday, November 9th, 2011, American Transplant Foundation held a party at Que Bueno Mexican Grill in Westminster, Colorado to celebrate Team Transplant winning “Colorado Nonprofit Project of the Year” at the Gold Leaf awards, held annually by Colorado Healthcare Communicators.

At the event, attendees enjoyed great Mexican food and an extended happy hour; won prizes from Que Bueno; learned about American Transplant Foundation’s initiatives; and entered for chances to win over $1500 worth of raffle and silent auction prizes donated by event sponsors.

We decided that the best way to honor Team Transplant’s award is to directly assist transplant patients in need. In honor of all Team Transplant members, all funds raised at the event will go to the Patient Assistance Program.

Attendees included Team Transplant members, volunteers, transplant recipients, living organ donors, dialysis center workers, and other supporters.

An extra-special thanks goes to Steve Crider, who did an amazing job organizing the event!

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Gavin Maitland - runner, double-lung recipient, TLC Founding Member

On Sunday, October 9, 2011, a team of 13 Transplant Leadership Council (TLC) Founding Members and supporters ran in the Rock ‘n’ Roll Denver Marathon. Members of the team participated in the full-marathon, half-marathon, and half-marathon relay.

With great weather, thousands of cheering fans, and live music every mile of the course, it was a fun way to celebrate the TLC’s success in helping transplant patients across the country through American Transplant Foundation’s Patient Assistance Program.

Honored members of the team were Gavin Maitland, a double-lung recipient who ran 7.8 miles in the half-marathon relay, and Dr. Jeff Stripling, a living kidney donor who ran the full-marathon. The two are living proof that you can still be a runner after giving or receiving an organ!

The team gathered for a social after the race at The Cheeky Monk Pub.

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Local News Channels 4, 9, and 31 all gave coverage of the story. See our In the News section.

Click here for the full Press Release.

Founding Co-Chairs Brad Farber and Susan Fakharzadeh and Volunteer Committee Chairs Matt Weiss and Jeanni Barnthouse all spoke. Steve Farber gave the opening remarks.

Since the Transplant Leadership Council’s Kickoff at the Jet Hotel in late June, under Brad and Susan’s energetic leadership, the group has grown to 27 Founding Members.  TLC is a unique young professionals organization in which Members review all grant applications and decide exactly how their financial gifts are used to directly aid transplant patients. American Transplant Foundation is thrilled to have these talented people dedicated to supporting our lifesaving mission!

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Now is the perfect time to get involved as we finalize our volunteer committees.    Learn more about the Transplant Leadership Council and how you can join this young professionals group.

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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Special thanks to this year’s top three fundraisers:

• Brian Cerise, living kidney donor – $3,908 raised*
• Stanton Dodge – $2,650 raised*
• Eric Lang, living kidney donor – $2,400 raised*

*Total raised by June 5, 2011

Thank you to team sponsors TriBella and Noodles and Company for hosting the party and providing delicious food.

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Thanks to the supporters and sponsors of Rockin’ Rhythm for Life 2011, more than $63,000 was raised at this event.

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Among the recipients, six-year-old liver recipient Vienna Danna raced in the Shimano Youth Series and WON. Vienna was also one of the team’s top fundraisers, raising more than $1,700 for the American Transplant Foundation. The Lieutenant Governor of Colorado and Team Transplant member Joe Garcia spoke to the crowd about the importance of organ and tissue donation and presented Vienna with a Team Transplant Champion jersey for her accomplishment.

Team Transplant had riders participating in all the five courses, riding between seven and 100 miles. A sub team, the “Organ Grinders,” also represented Team Transplant in the 24 Hours of ERock mountain bike race June 3-4th. Thanks to sponsors and participants, this event raised more than $60,000 to support the American Transplant Foundation.

Team Transplant gear is available for purchase in our Shop.

For even more photos, please visit our album on Facebook. (You do not need a Facebook account to view the photos.)

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Photos by Joshua Duplechian/Rich Clarkson and Associates.

Special thanks to Shanahan’s Steakhouse for hosting and underwriting this memorable event and to the individuals who made contributions to the Foundation in Steve’s honor.

Steve and Gregg’s transplant story

Send Steve and Gregg your wishes.

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Photos by Chris Enzaldo of Chenzo Photo LLC