The twinkle of light from hundreds of candles filled Kirkwood Baptist Church Thursday night.  Lifted in honor of organ and tissue donors, the candles represented the shared light of hope given through the selfless and heroic act of organ and tissue donation.

A pause gave a moment to remember each of the 73 donors represented by family and friends attending the St. Louis Candlelight Memorial Ceremony, honoring donors who gave the Gift of Life in 2018.

Donors like Marnell Williams, who gave the Gift of Life in October 2018. His wife of 47 years, Arlena Williams, attend with family to honor his memory. “I wouldn’t miss this for the world,” she said. “He cared about everybody. It’s just touching.”

Marnell enjoyed fixing cars, TVs and other things. He was a supervisor for the St. Louis City Parks Department. “He was a beautiful person, inside and out,” Arlena said. “A comical guy, clever, witty. Always kept you laughing. A good father, a good husband. Everybody loved him.”

Tanya Wilkerson attended in memory of her brother, Tony, who was a donor in February of 2019 after a battle with muscular dystrophy. “He was so full of life, and always a fighter,” Tanya said. “He was always so giving in nature. I loved him. He was amazing and resilient and so strong. This is one more way we can continue to share his legacy, one more way to honor him.”

In the front corner of the church sanctuary, five brightly lit Trees of Life adorned with leaves inscribed with the names of each donor – like Marnell and Tony – represented at the event. In addition, hundreds of small candles, shined bright at the front of the church in honor of those who have given new life and hope to others.

The 337 people in attendance heard from Nikki Love-McIntyre, a kidney-pancreas recipient from SSM Health Saint Louis University Hospital. “I’m sure I speak for all recipients of organs and tissue when I say that your loved ones have saved lives, they have enhanced people’s lives, they have given them their lives back,” she said. “I honor them tonight, for making that decision, because it is the most selfless decision that a person can make, to save a life of another. God bless you.”

Nikki received a lifesaving transplant in October of 2015. “I was able to get my health back, my life back,” she said. “Transplant literally saved my life.” 

Nikki told the audience of an important life moment she was able to experience because a hero like their loved one gave her a second chance. “Four months after transplant, I met my soulmate, Ryan. We were married in July of 2017. I strongly believe that would not have happened if I had not had a transplant.”

For Nikki, she was grateful for the opportunity to say thank you. “To just be able to show honor to not only my donor, but to other donors,” she said. “It’s just an unselfish act, and they’ve saved lives. They deserved this time.”

Kristie Grote, mother of 13-year-old, three-time liver recipient Megan, spoke of her daughter’s transplant journey with St. Louis Children’s Hospital. “There’s not a day that goes by that I don’t thank each of Megan’s donors,” Kristie told the audience. “She’s accepted three livers that were not her own, and to look at her now, she doesn’t look like she’s gone through anything medical. That’s the gift we received. We’re thankful and grateful to be given the memories, and to be able to take her places and make more memories.”

Because of transplant, Megan was able to go to school, dance, celebrate birthdays, play softball and make friends. “The beautiful part about transplants is that it brings so many people together,” Kristie said. “It really shows the comradery of knowing that we’re all there for each other.  We’ve met recipient families and many donor families over the years, and it’s amazing how we’ve become this group that loves and supports each other.”

Several other recipients attended in honor of their heroic donor. Doug Jones is a lung recipient, who was able to walk both of his daughters down the aisle at their wedding. Anthony Wiggins, a kidney recipient, is thankful for the opportunity to meet his first grandchild, born in January 2019. Bill Wiese is a bone recipient, thankful for walks through the zoo with his grandchildren. And Zachary Broeker is a 3-year-old heart recipient, thankful for playtime with his big brothers.

“We are beyond thankful,” Zachary’s mother, Amanda said. “I could never thank his donor’s family enough.”

Shortly after Amber Kaufmann saved three lives through organ and tissue donation as a 16-year-old, her high school bowling team hosted an event for a scholarship in her honor. They asked Amber’s mom, Teri Slusher, to throw the ceremonial first ball.

“I went out to throw the ceremonial first bowling ball, and they gave me this little bowling ball,” Teri said. “I threw it out and it went right into the gutter. She would have thought that was hilarious and given me all kinds of trouble about it. She would have teased me forever.”

Amber would have been proud of her mom on Saturday. Teri opened the 2019 Green Up Games with the ceremonial first pitch – over the plate -- at Southern Illinois University’s softball game at Charlotte West Stadium in Carbondale. With her husband by her side, patting her back, Teri honored Amber’s life and legacy.  “She would be thrilled to be getting all of this attention,” Teri said. “She would be smiling from ear to ear, loving every bit of it.”

Amber was an honor student at Scott City High School. She played softball and volleyball, bowled, and was a student helper for the girls’ basketball team. She also was on the track team, participating in discus and shotput. She enjoyed music and played in band. She talked about joining the military like her sister Erika and brother Todd. In 2008, Amber saved three lives as an organ donor. She gave the gift of sight to two people and helped countless more through tissue donation.

Teri only hoped her mother could have been in the pitcher’s circle too. “My mom passed in 2014, and for her to be a part of this would have been really cool. She was an avid sports fan,” Teri said.

Before the first pitch, 30 people – representing donor families and transplant recipients – stepped onto the field for a moment of silence in honor of those who have given the Gift of Life and in support of the 114,000 people waiting for a lifesaving organ transplant today.

With nearly 114,000 people waiting for a lifesaving transplant, we at Mid-America Transplant are inspired by those who give hope to transplant patients. We’re inspired by every day moments. We’re inspired by moments that matter. We are inspired by life.

For those 114,000 people waiting, you can provide hope, and you can inspire others to provide hope. Here are five ways you can inspire.

1. Register to Be A Donor. This simple act – this heroic decision – lets those waiting for a lifesaving transplant know that people are willing to help them. And registration takes less than one minute. That’s one minute to give hope to 114,000 people today. Click here to join the organ and tissue donor registry.
2. Talk to Your Family. After you’ve joined the registry, be sure to tell your family. Let them know of your wishes so they know how important this decision is to you.
3. Join Our Social Media Community. Ninety-five percent of Americans support organ donation, but only 58 percent are registered. By joining our social media, you’ll have the latest inspiring pictures, videos, and stories to share with your family and friends. Get involved by spreading the word! We're on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and LinkedIn!
4. Take Your Decision On The Road. More than 95 percent of people on the registry joined at a license office. In Missouri, Illinois and Arkansas – the three states in Mid-America Transplant’s service area – residents can include a special symbol on their driver’s license designating their decision. You can also order Donate Life specialty plates in those three states! You may inspire someone to be a donor in the parking lot at the grocery store!
5. Share Your Story. Whether you’re a patient waiting for a transplant, a transplant recipient, a donor family, a living donor, or family and friends of transplant patients, you can share how organ and tissue donation and transplantation have touched your life. Click here to share your story on our website, and we may select your story to be featured on our social media channels!

There it is! Five ways you can inspire others and provide hope to nearly 114,000 transplant patients waiting for a lifesaving gift.

National Donate Life Month is a month-long observance throughout April, and we hope you’ll join us in celebrating this exciting time of the year. NDLM, short for National Donate Life Month, is designed to help encourage Americans to register as organ, eye, and tissue donors and to celebrate those who have saved lives through the gift of donation.

Here are nine ways you can participate:

1. NDLM-themed social media cover images and profile pictures. Visit Donate Life America’s National Donate Life Month webpage and download social media cover images and profile pictures to show your support of donation and transplantation. This is an easy way to reach all of your friends and contacts on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn and Instagram. In the description of the image, include a link to https://www.midamericatransplant.org/register where all of your friends can join the registry.

2. Facebook Frame & Camera Effects. Beginning in March, find this awesome option directly on the Donate Life America Facebook page! You can also find them in the “Add Frame” option when you change your profile picture or on Facebook Camera as a camera effect. To update your profile picture, go to “Update your Profile Pic” and tap “Add Frame.” Then, search for “Donate Life America.” To access Facebook Camera, tap the camera icon on the top left corner of your Facebook app or swipe right on your Newsfeed. Tap the magic wand to see the camera effects. 

3. Share Your Story. Do you have a personal connection to donation and/or transplantation. Share your story on our website by clicking here, and we may share your story and picture on our social media channels. You can inspire others to make a lifesaving, heroic decision to be an organ, eye and tissue donor.

4. Share the NDLM ad. Print the NDLM ad and submit it to a community newsletter or the bulletin at your place of worship; distribute it at your high school or college; or post it in the common areas at your workplace. Think about how many people walk through the cafeteria each day at your school or workplace. How many people attend your church? Now think about if all of those people agreed to save lives through organ and tissue donation because of the ad you submitted or posted.

5. Join us for the 2019 Green Up Games. Mid-America Transplant is excited to partner with the athletics departments at four institutions of higher education within our service area — Drury University, Missouri State University, Southeast Missouri State University and Southern Illinois University-Carbondale – in presenting the 2019 Green Up Games. These events are designed to honor donors and increase awareness at baseball and softball games throughout our service area. Find the dates of each baseball and softball game designated as a Green Up Game on our Calendar of Events. RSVP for one or more Green Up Games here: https://www.midamericatransplant.org/GreenUp

6. Blue & Green Day is April 12th. Dress up in your best blue and green outfit for Blue & Green Day on Friday, April 12. Blue and/or green shirt? Check! Blue and green shoes? Check! Blue and green hair accessory? Check! Blue and green nail polish? Check! If it’s blue and/or green, wear it!

7. Follow Mid-America Transplant. We are on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. When you like, comment and share on our posts, your friends see our post too. It’s an easy way to share how important National Donate Life Month is to you.

8. Encourage 5 people to join the registry. Commit to telling five people about organ, eye and tissue donation and encourage them to sign up. It can be hard to strike up this conversation, so it’s important to wear a Donate Life bracelet, shirt, hat … anything that says Donate Life or organ, eye and tissue donation. When someone asks you about the article you’re wearing, that’s your chance. Download these frequently asked questions and statistics to help you with the conversation.

9. Have you joined the registry? And most important, if you haven’t done so yet, join the organ, eye and tissue donor registry by visiting www.midamericatransplant.org/register. Nearly 114,000 people are waiting for a lifesaving transplant. They’re counting on us to raise awareness about organ, eye and tissue donation to give them a second chance at life.

Wishing you a happy National Donate Life Month! Thank you for your support and your dedication to saving lives through organ, eye and tissue donation!

April is National Donate Life Month. Every year, Donate Life America leads the celebration of National Donate Life Month (NDLM) to focus national attention on organ, eye and tissue donation and transplantation — to share the importance of registering your decision to be a donor, honor deceased and living donors, and celebrate the lifesaving and healing gift of transplantation.

“This April, we will be working to increase the number of registered organ and tissue donations to save and heal lives. However, it’s also important to remember Donate Life Month serves to honor those who have made the selfless decision to give to others through organ and tissue donation,” said Diane Brockmeier, President and CEO of Mid-America Transplant. “We are inspired by the courage shown by donors and donor families to help others.” 

To help illustrate the message of donation, Donate Life America (DLA) creates unique artwork for each National Donate Life Month. The 2019 National Donate Life Month (NDLM) art was inspired by bicycles and the phrase, “Life is a beautiful ride.” Bicycles serve as a symbol of progress, renewal and the moving circle of life. We each carry the potential to help make life a beautiful ride for ourselves, and then for others by registering as a donor, considering living donation, being a caregiver and championing the Donate Life cause. 

Additionally, the public is encouraged to wear blue and green Donate Life colors, hold events, and partner with local organizations to spread awareness about organ, eye and tissue donation and transplantation for National Donate Life Blue & Green Day on Friday, April 12. More information and public resources for both NDLM and Blue & Green Day are available at DonateLife.net/ndlm/.

In 2018, Mid-America Transplant facilitated the recovery of hundreds of thousands of life-enhancing and lifesaving gifts of cornea, skin, bone, vein, and heart valves from a historic number of 1,986 tissue donors. Additionally, 629 lifesaving organs were recovered from 196 organ donors. The generosity of the region contributed to a record-breaking year nationwide. The United Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS) reported 36,527 organ transplants were performed in 2018 from both deceased and living donors.   

Approximately 1,200 people in the region are waiting for a lifesaving transplant today. Nationally, 114,000 people are waiting for a second chance through the gift of organ and tissue donation. During April, Mid-America Transplant and Donate Life America celebrate that 58 percent of U.S. adults have registered their decision to make LIFE possible as organ, eye and tissue donors at the time of their death while bringing attention to the transplant waiting list. On average, 22 people die each day because the organ they need is not donated in time — almost one person dying every hour. Thousands more people are waiting for lifesaving and healing eye and tissue transplants.

Learn more about Mid-America Transplant at www.midamericatransplant.org. You can provide hope to those waiting and register your decision to be an organ, eye and tissue donor at www.midamericatransplant.org/register or in the Medical ID tab of your iPhone Health app. 

*Data from the Organ Procurement and Transplantation Network (OPTN) as of January 16, 2019

About Mid-America Transplant
For 45 years, Mid-America Transplant has facilitated and coordinated organ and tissue donation, and now serves 84 counties covering eastern Missouri, southern Illinois and northeast Arkansas that together are home to 4.7 million people. It saves lives by providing expert and compassionate care for organ donors, donor families, and recipients. Through innovation and process improvements, the organization has transformed the clinical processes required to recover and transplant organs and tissues. Mid-America Transplant is federally designated as one of 58 such organizations in the U.S., and is the first organ and tissue procurement organization to be recognized as a recipient of the Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award for Performance Excellence. For more information, visit www.midamericatransplant.org.

About Donate Life America
Donate Life America (DLA) is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization leading its national partners and Donate Life State Teams to increase the number of donated organs, eyes and tissue available to save and heal lives. DLA manages and promotes Donate Life℠, the national brand for the cause of donation; motivates the public to register as organ, eye and tissue donors; provides education about living donation; manages the National Donate Life Registry at RegisterMe.org; and develops and executes effective multi-media campaigns to promote donation.

(St. Louis, MO) A historic number of tissue donations in Mid-America Transplant’s service area led to hundreds of thousands of life-enhancing and lifesaving gifts in 2018. Mid-America Transplant facilitated the recovery of the gifts of cornea, skin, bone, vein, and heart valves from 1,986 generous donors, the most in the organization’s 45-year history. 

“It is remarkable to think that upwards of 99,300 people could be directly impacted by the gifts given by generous donors and their families in 2018,” said Diane Brockmeier, President and Chief Executive Officer of Mid-America Transplant. “Many people are familiar with organ transplants, yet don’t realize the incredible potential impact of tissue donation. One of the remarkable things about tissue donation is that, over time, one tissue donor may improve the quality of life for more than 50 people.  That’s an inspiring legacy.”

In addition, the organization experienced these exceptional results:

• 629 organs transplanted to save lives (second most in organizational history), including the gifts of heart, lungs, liver, pancreas and kidneys. 
• 196 generous organ donors (second most in organizational history)
• 1,108 corneas placed for vision-saving transplants in the nation and beyond

An ongoing commitment to performance excellence has led Mid-America Transplant to experience an overall growth in the number of organ donors and organs transplanted since 2003. Inspired by saving more lives, Mid-America Transplant continues to apply innovative approaches for increasing organs and tissues for transplant.

The generosity of the region contributed to a record-breaking year nationwide, in which the number of organ transplants exceeded 750,000 since 1988. The United Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS) reported 36,527 organ transplants were performed in 2018 from both deceased and living donors. UNOS, the non-profit organization that manages the nation’s organ transplant system under contract with the federal government, also reported 5% increase in organs transplanted from 2017. 

Mid-America Transplant proudly supported the community in 2018. The organization increased funding of grief centers throughout the region; continued its commitment to support research aimed at improving the lifesaving impact of organ and tissue donation and transplantation through the Clinical Innovation Fund;  launched the Green Up Games; and hosted its inaugural Research and Innovation Symposium. In addition, Mid-America Transplant supported Missouri legislation in 2018 to increase education opportunities about donation and collaborated with state leaders to incorporate the option to join the Missouri Organ and Tissue Donor Registry when purchasing a hunting or fishing license from the Missouri Department of Conservation.

We are inspired by the opportunity to save more lives in the years to come. More than 1,400 people in the region and 115,000 nationwide continue to wait for a lifesaving transplant. Visit www.midamericatransplant.org for more information about organ and tissue donation. You may also register your decision to be an organ, eye and tissue donor at RegisterMe.org or in the Medical ID tab of your iPhone Health App.

About Mid-America Transplant
For 45 years, Mid-America Transplant has facilitated and coordinated organ and tissue donation, and now serves 84 counties covering eastern Missouri, southern Illinois and northeast Arkansas that together are home to 4.7 million people. It saves lives by providing expert and compassionate care for organ donors, donor families, and recipients, and transforms the clinical processes required to recover and transplant organs and tissues. Mid-America Transplant is federally designated as one of 58 such organizations in the U.S., and is the first organ and tissue procurement organization to be recognized as a recipient of the Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award for Performance Excellence. For more information, visit www.midamericatransplant.org. 

As Deb Simaitis created a stained glass piece for Mid-America Transplant’s Family House, she began painting a story with words to describe the artwork. Made of 116 pieces of glass, the 19-inch-by-23-inch framed work depicts two butterflies and three flowers.  “I saw the larger butterfly as the recipient, waiting for the transplant from the other butterfly,” said Deb. “I made them exactly the same, except one is bigger. But I made them the same color with the same glass because I wanted it to represent the recipient waiting for the exact transplant from the donor.”

As a donor mom, she has found comfort in others’ interpretations. Deb’s husband, San, saw the small butterfly as the donor flying off after the donation. Their oldest daughter, Sarah, saw the larger butterfly as the donor watching the recipient fly away as the larger butterfly remains on her flower in heaven. Many others shared their explanation when Deb shared it on social media. “The different interpretations were really amazing,” said Deb, whose daughter Laura was an organ, eye and tissue donor at 23 years old in 2001. “So when people at Family House see it, it’s open to any interpretation. Whatever you see is right for you.”

Deb began her stained glass hobby 25 years ago. In the spring, she created rainbow suncatchers -- reflecting the theme of National Donate Life Month -- for donor families who attended a donor family recognition ceremony at Donate Life Day at the Capitol in Jefferson City, Mo. Deb is the chairperson of the Governor’s Organ Donation Advisory Council (GODAC), which hosted the donor family event.

The Family House artwork was a winter project for Deb and San. They both found inspiration in creating a meaningful piece to encourage transplant patients. “I want the patients waiting at Family House to know that there is a donor for them and to not give up hope,” Deb said. “I want them to feel inspired by it and to be comforted by it.”

Now Thousands Know Her
Laura Simaitis made sure her family knew her wishes to save lives as an organ, eye and tissue donor if something were to happen. The unexpected occurred in 2001 when Laura was 23 years old, and she became a donor. Through her gifts, Laura saved, helped and healed 103 people. “No one knew Laura,” Deb said. “She was an everyday, normal person. And now thousands know her. And thousands thank her.”

Deb became an advocate for organ, eye and tissue donation after Laura’s heroic acts. “In her memory, and as part of her legacy, I’ve gone on to be part of GODAC and speak when I’m asked and do what I can to raise awareness for donation,” Deb said.

Gov. Mike Parson signed House Bill 2129 on Thursday in Jefferson City seeking to increase education opportunities on organ, eye and tissue donation for high school students in Missouri. Under the law, when a state or nationally recognized organization requests to make a presentation on organ, eye and tissue donation, the school board must allow 30 minutes for the presentation. The school board will then determine if the information will be shared with students and parents within the school district.

State Rep. Steve Cookson of Poplar Bluff sponsored the bill with co-sponsors Reps. Warren Love and Karla May. The bill received bipartisan support in the Missouri House of Representatives and Senate.  Rep. Cookson collaborated with representatives from Mid-America Transplant, Midwest Transplant Network (MTN), and Gift of Life. MTN is an organ procurement organization based in Kansas City. Gift of Life is a Kansas City-based nonprofit organization that offers educational information to schools, civic groups and spiritual communities. 

“This is an exciting day for the 1,800 Missourians awaiting a lifesaving transplant today,” said Diane Brockmeier, President and CEO of Mid-America Transplant. “This bill will allow more Missourians to receive lifesaving education and make an informed, personal decision about organ and tissue donation. We are inspired by the dedication and diligence Rep. Cookson has shown leading up to this day. We thank Reps. Cookson, Love and May for their hard work, and we thank Gov. Parson for signing this important bill into law.”

ECHO stands for Every Community Has Opportunity – the opportunity to save and heal lives through donation and transplantation. Donate Life ECHO, July 8-21, 2018, is a national observance that engages social media and community storytelling to talk about donation education, highlight the importance of registering to be an organ, eye and tissue donor, honor donors and donor families, and celebrate what transplant has made possible in multicultural communities.

Education, outreach and registration opportunities are vital steps towards increasing the number of registered donors and lives saved in multicultural communities.

• Walgreens efforts to help raise consumer awareness: Throughout July, information about Donate Life ECHO will be featured on Walgreens health resource panels included with prescriptions filled at its retail and local specialty pharmacies nationwide. Walgreens will also be hosting donor registration drives at Walgreens stores in six markets across the country: Washington, D.C.; Atlanta, GA; Miami, FL; San Antonio, TX; Detroit, MI; and Phoenix/Tucson, AZ.
• Donate Life Caregiving: This year, the Donate Life ECHO observance will center on the theme of Donate Life Caregiving. DLA and AMAT are paying homage to the caregivers within and for our communities. Caregivers are vital to the health and well being of patients, families and our societal fabric. The thread of Donate Life Caregiving will be woven through stories shared during the two weeks of Donate Life ECHO. Videos focused on Donate Life Caregiving, submitted by organizations across the country, will be featured on DLA social media platforms during the last week of ECHO.

“We created Donate Life ECHO to give a national voice to the experience of multicultural communities with donation and transplantation. The voices and experiences from these communities need to be heard,” says Maria Veve, President of the Association for Multicultural Affairs in Transplantation (AMAT). “This year, join us to include Donate Life Caregiving in the Donate Life ECHO message. Caregivers lift us up, walk with us and catch us when we fall. We are grateful for the opportunity to recognize all they do to make LIFE possible in this year’s observance. ”

Join us in celebrating 2018 Donate Life ECHO. Donate Life ECHO resources are available in English, Spanish and additional languages. Resources and more information about how to be a part of Donate Life ECHO are available at: DonateLife.net/ECHO and amat1.org/programs/ECHO.   

You can register your decision to be an organ, eye and tissue donor in the National Donate Life Registry at RegisterMe.org or in the Medical ID Tab of your iPhone Health App or in Spanish at DoneVida.org.

Data from Organ Procurement and Transplantation Network (OPTN) as of April 20, 2018 

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About Mid-America Transplant
Mid-America Transplant enables adults and children to receive lifesaving gifts through organ and tissue donations. For more than 40 years, it has facilitated and coordinated organ and tissue donation, and now serves 84 counties covering eastern Missouri, southern Illinois and northeast Arkansas that together are home to 4.7 million people. It saves lives by providing expert and compassionate care for organ and tissue donors, recipients and families, and transforms the clinical processes required to recover and transplant organs and tissues. Mid-America Transplant was the first such organization in the U.S. to use an in-house operating room for organ recovery and pioneered innovative models of increasing donor registry enrollment to provide more organs and tissues to those in need. It is federally designated as one of 58 such organizations in the U.S., and is the first organ procurement organization to be recognized as a recipient of the Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award for Performance Excellence.

About the Association of Multicultural Affairs in Transplantation (AMAT)
AMAT was established in 1992 to address the increasing need for organ, eye and tissue donors in the multicultural communities, while simultaneously offering support, shared expertise and professional development opportunities for its members as they save and heal lives. AMAT is a self-sustaining, self-governed organization operating solely on voluntary contributions from individuals, corporations, and other affiliated organizations. For more information, visit: www.AMAT1.org. 

About Donate Life America (DLA)
Donate Life America is a 501(c)3 nonprofit alliance of national organizations and Donate Life State Teams across the United States committed to increasing the number of donated organs, eyes and tissue available for transplant to save and heal lives. Donate Life America manages and promotes the national brand for donation, Donate Life℠; develops and executes effective multi-media donor education programs; motivates the American public to register now as organ, eye and tissue donors; manages the National Donate Life Registry, RegisterMe.org; and assists Donate Life State Teams and national partners in facilitating high-performing donor registration programs. For more information, please visit DonateLife.net.

Mid-America Transplant Foundation Pledges $450,000 to Partner Organizations to Save and Heal Lives

With a mission statement aimed at saving and healing lives in the communities it serves, the Mid-America Transplant Foundation doubled its support of grief services at its Board of Directors meeting in May. The board approved about $450,000 in funding through seven partner grants – five to organizations providing grief services – in giving back to the communities through responsible stewardship of the Foundation’s resources.

The Foundation awarded $300,000 to grief programs this year, nearly doubling its commitment since 2016. “As the Foundation continues to seek opportunities to better serve our region, we’ve identified the need to help donor families heal through professional counseling services delivered by grief centers,” said Kevin Lee, Executive Director of the Foundation. “This commitment by the Board of Directors represents a significant increase in support of grief programs that serve donor families throughout the region.”

The grant recipients providing grief services include:

• Annie’s Hope in St. Louis has provided comprehensive support services since the 1990s for children, teens and their families who are grieving a death. The grant will support several programs serving the families of organ donors, including the Horizon’s program, teen retreats, Camp Courage, and Camp Erin.
• Heartlinks Grief Center in Belleville, IL is a program of Family Hospice, and it assists grieving children, individuals, families, and groups through counseling, peer support groups, and other community programs. Serving southern Illinois, Heartlinks will increase its capacity to serve more than 1,500 families annually with the grant funding.
• Infant Loss Resources serves St. Louis and southeast Missouri as a not-for-profit network that connects families directly affected by infant loss to programs, services and information related to grief support. The grant will support grief programs offered by Infant Loss Resources, which served 219 individuals in 2017.
• Lost & Found Grief Center in Springfield, MO provides grief support services in a safe and supportive environment for children, young adults, and their families grieving the death of a loved one. With the grant funding, Lost & Found will continue to provide therapeutic grief support groups and develop commemorative activities to honor loved ones and increase awareness of organ and tissue donation.
• The NEA Baptist Center for Good Grief opened in Jonesboro in October of 2017. In its first 120 days, it provided individual grief services to 59 clients and therapeutic grief support groups to 54 clients. Through the grant award, Good Grief will continue to serve children, teens and adults who face the loss of a loved one and are trying to cope with the ensuing grief.

• Jordan Valley Family Health Foundation is providing care to indigent patients with uncontrolled diabetes and/or hypertension. The program is expected to improve the health and quality of life for 2,450 patients in and around Springfield, MO.
• The iFM Community Medicine is seeking to screen and educate 650 young people for kidney disease through its Kidney TLC (Test, Learn, and Change) program. iFM’s program is designed to achieve early diagnosis of patients with risk factors for chronic renal disease in north St. Louis city and county.

“As an organization, we remain committed to finding a way to decrease the need for transplants through preventative health measures with partners in our community,” Lee said. “In this cycle, we’re proud to partner with iFM Community Medicine and Jordan Valley to proactively help citizens understand their kidney health, which we know has long term benefits including decreasing the need for dialysis and ultimately the need for a transplant.”

The Foundation’s partner grants are awarded to organizations aligned to the Foundation’s mission. Organizations are invited to submit an application. To date, the Foundation has awarded more than $900,000 in grants to partner organizations.

About Mid-America Transplant Foundation
In support of Mid-America Transplant, the Foundation seeks to reduce the need for organ and tissue transplantation; increase the availability of organs and tissues for those who need them; and to improve the lives of recipients and donor families. It strives to save and heal lives in the communities we serve through programs and partnerships that impact organ and tissue donation. For more information, visit www.midamericatransplant.org.

About Mid-America Transplant
Mid-America Transplant enables adults and children to receive lifesaving gifts through organ and tissue donations. For more than 40 years, it has facilitated and coordinated organ and tissue donation, and now serves 84 counties covering eastern Missouri, southern Illinois and northeast Arkansas that together are home to 4.7 million people. It saves lives by providing expert and compassionate care for organ and tissue donors, recipients and families, and transforms the clinical processes required to recover and transplant organs and tissues. Mid-America Transplant was the first such organization in the U.S. to use an in-house operating room for organ recovery and pioneered innovative models of increasing donor registry enrollment to provide more organs and tissues to those in need. It is federally designated as one of 58 such organizations in the U.S., and is the first organ procurement organization to be recognized as a recipient of the Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award for Performance Excellence.