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| Vol. 23, No. 21 |
| November 15, 2001 |
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New LifeGift Volunteer Program Seeks Transplant Recipients by MICHELE RAINFORD LifeGift Organ Donation Center LifeGift Organ Donation Center, the Medicare certified, not-for-profit organ procurement organization that serves Houston and one-third of Texas, has a new volunteer program designed for persons who have had organ and tissue transplants. The Recipient Outreach Program seeks to enlist the aid of organ and tissue transplant recipients to help educate the public about organ and tissue donation to save more lives. The program needs recipient volunteers who are willing to tell their stories of lifesaving organ transplants to different groups and to prospective donor families during the consent process. The Recipient Outreach Program is specifically for transplant recipients who have never before volunteered with LifeGift. The program is a two-year pilot program funded by the Houston Endowment Inc. Volunteers who are a match for the program will be trained to effectively tell their personal stories in a variety of forums to increase awareness of and encourage organ and tissue donation. Volunteers may also be trained to help in the consent process with prospective donor families. Established in 1987, LifeGift’s mission is to provide community benefit by recovering appropriately transplantable organs and tissues ethically, effectively and efficiently. LifeGift blends the talents and dedication of physicians, hospital administrators, donor families, organ recipients, community members and staff. Its service area includes 109 Texas counties and 236 hospitals, recovering organs for some of the country’s leading transplant centers. Its four offices are located in Houston, Fort Worth, Lubbock and Amarillo. Currently, more than 78,000 men, women and children are waiting for an organ transplant in the United States. Organ or tissue recipients who have not previously volunteered with LifeGift and who would like to positively impact the consent rate for organ and tissue donation may contact the Recipient Outreach Program director at (713) 523-4438.
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