ambassadors

The Steamboat Springs native had Mark McIntosh at “hello” when muttering, on their first encounter, “Let’s go make some noise and wake people up to the value and benefit of live organ donation.” Weber knows. The two-time Olympic ski jumper received a kidney and liver from two separate living donors a while back. The friendly chap advocates passionately for Americans to get tested to see if they might be a viable donor. “It’s a million dollar checkup that could save somebody else’s life or your own. Take the first step, Get tested!”

The Iowa native’s soul represents Drive for Five’s mission wonderfully. Perham won two golds and a silver in the butterfly at the ’92 Barcelona games. She’s also a kidney donor. A few years ago, the University of Arizona All-American shared her spare with Dick Franklin, father of fellow Olympian Missy Franklin. When asked, “Gold and silver in the Olympics, donating a kidney? Which one is more significant?” The impressive human didn’t hesitate. “Helping Dick and watching him play with his grand kids? Better than gold and silver.”

A dynamo advocate for change at state and local levels concerning policies governing live organ donation. The former Columbia University professor and donor is the “Straw that stirs the drink” endorsing the End Kidney Deaths Act. Organ donation is regulated with antiquated policy. Our nation gives tax credits for solar panels and electric vehicles. Pays cash to those who donate sperm, fertilized eggs and plasma. Why not a tax credit for someone willing to donate their spare to a stranger? Please join DFF in supporting the End Kidney Deaths Act.

Accomplished writer and retired public relations standout received a kidney recently. He writes about the journey and how kidney patients searching for a donor can tell their story through marketing. An outdoorsman, Blumenfeld assists the End Kidney Deaths Act advocacy with guest columns in newspapers and social media posts. The Connecticut native is a mentor to McIntosh and about six months ahead in the transplant process. Each received gifts from unknown living donors. An avid skier, cold weather friends call him "Billy Kiddney."

The scientist from University of Texas - San Antonio is known as the “Match Maker” for expertise in helping make sure the kidney being donated is as compatible as possible with the recipient. The analysis is critical to ensure there’s few anti-bodies present and determining other genetic factors involved in live organ donation. A donor herself, Hitchman has leadership roles on several organizations promoting greater participation and better practices to enact safe and sensible regulatory policies concerning organ transplantation.