Donate Life Illinois – Organ Donation News – I am. Are you?

I am a registered organ & tissue donor.
Are you?

Donate Life Illinois is a coalition of agencies responsible for organ, tissue, eye, blood and marrow donation, as well as donor education and registration in Illinois. It is one of 45 regional coalitions and 50 national businesses or associations making up Donate Life America, a not-for-profit alliance that serves as a national voice and inspires all people to save and enhance lives through organ, eye and tissue donation.

To learn more about Donate Life Illinois and register to become a lifesaving organ & tissue donor in Illinois, please visit www.DonateLifeIllinois.org.

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BLOG MANAGER

Josh Muller – Gift of Hope Organ & Tissue Donor Network

In November 2010, Josh joined Gift of Hope as the Senior Public Education Coordinator responsible for managing the Donate Life Illinois social media and a variety of campaigns throughout the state of Illinois.

Josh is intimately familiar with the importance of organ and tissue donation.  During the summer of 2000, Josh’s older brother, Nick, passed away in a tragic auto accident.  Nick was a registered organ and tissue donor in Indiana.  He was able to give life-saving transplants to two kidney recipients and enhance the lives of countless others through tissue donation.

Since 2004, Josh has worked with a variety of not for profit organizations including the Indiana Organ Procurement Organization and St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.  Josh is delighted to join the Donate Life Illinois team and looks forward to spreading donation awareness and registering organ and tissue donors throughout Illinois!

CONTRIBUTING AUTHORS

Mary Schlereth – Illinois Eye-Bank

After losing her boyfriend Craig (who became a donor), and searching for some type of healing and understanding, Mary began volunteering for Gift of Hope Organ & Tissue Donor Network and participated as a Donor Family Member with Team Illinois U.S. Transplant Games.

Since Craig’s passing, many parts of her life have changed. Most notably, Mary has traded in her chalk and eraser as a teacher to be a part of the organ donation and transplantation community.  Mary worked for almost two years at the National Kidney Foundation of Illinois coordinating transplant patient education programs and now works as the Community Engagement Coordinator for the Illinois Eye-Bank. One of the most positive experiences for Mary has been participating as a Donor Family Member of Team Illinois in the 2004, 2006, & 2008 U.S. Transplant Games.  She is currently one of Team Managers for Team Illinois and will provide progress updates as the Team prepares for the 2010 U.S. Transplant Games in Madison, Wisconsin!

Morgan D’ Organ – Donate Life Illinois Mascot

Some assume he’s a giant piece of bubble gum. Others mistake him for a pork chop but alas, ole Morgan is Donate Life Illinois’ trusty mascot (yes, he’s a liver).

Whether starring in a video, recruiting Facebook fans or interacting with supporters at registration events – Morgan is one busy mascot. So busy in fact that we even let him post about his activities once in awhile.

Nick Urig – Donate Life Illinois Campaign Manager

For the past 2 years Nick’s been working on behalf of Gift of Hope to register Illinois residents as organ/tissue donors. Currently, he’s managing Donate Life Illinois’ campaign outreach initiatives. He enjoys connecting with all the inspiring people affected by organ/tissue donation in Illinois and hanging out with everyone’s favorite pink liver- Morgan D’Organ.

*Disclosure: Donate Life Illinois Campaign Manager, Nick Urig, is an employee of Carolyn Grisko & Associates Inc. and serves this role on behalf of Gift of Hope Organ & Tissue Donor Network.