a true ambassador - Iowa Donor Network

Connections
Iowa Donor Network
IN THIS ISSUE
PAGE 2
At Iowa Donor Network,
we value your generosity
and view ourselves as
stewards of your gifts.
PAGE 3
The Memorial Garden
at IDN’s Altoona office
offers opportunities to
remember loved ones.
PAGE 4
Candlelight Tribute
offers families, friends
opportunity to connect.
PAGE 6
Xfinity series driver and Iowa native Joey Gase was honored with the NASCAR Comcast
Community Champion of the Year Award for 2015. Gase is the son of an organ donor and
an advocate for donation.
Donor Jesse Jorgensen
to be memorialized on
Donate Life Rose Parade
Float.
A TRUE AMBASSADOR
PAGE 7
GASE WRAPS SUCCESSFUL
NASCAR SEASON WITH AWARD
HONORING ADVOCACY EFFORTS
Iowa Donor Network
and its supporters
spread awareness of the
importance of donation
across the state this fall.
At just 22-years-old, Joey Gase has
grown familiar with measuring himself
against others. As a professional stock
car racer in the NASCAR Sprint Cup
Series and Xfinity Cup Series, Gase need
only look to the leaderboard for objective
feedback on how he and his team
performed on a given weekend.
For the most part, Gase measures
up well with his competitors. Driving
for a team with limited resources, he
managed to secure a third-straight Top
25 season finish in the Xfinity Cup Series
driver standings, propelled by a careerbest 5th Place finish at Talladega. In his
three Sprint Cup Series races, he was
competitive, finishing each race.
It is off the track where Gase blows
other drivers away. As an advocate for
organ, tissue and eye donation, Gase
has been honored with the inaugural
NASCAR Comcast Community Champion
of the Year Award. The award recognizes
one driver for accomplishments
CONTINUED ON PAGE 5
A Publication of Iowa Donor Network | Winter 2015
Iowa Donor Network
ABOUT IOWA DONOR NETWORK
IDN also serves as the tissue
recovery agency for the state and
is accredited by the American
Association of Tissue Banks.
If you would like to contact one
of our offices, our statewide toll
free number is (800) 831-4131.
OUR OFFICES
Main Office
550 Madison Avenue
North Liberty, IA 52317
Phone (319) 665-3787
Altoona Office
320 Adventureland Dr. NW
Altoona, IA 50009
Phone (515) 727-7897
Sioux City Office
801 5th Street, Room 5182
Sioux City, IA 51101
Phone (712) 279-2337
WEBSITE
www.IowaDonorNetwork.org
2
VALUING YOUR
GENEROSITY
As we reach the fourth quarter of the
calendar year, it is common for nonprofit organizations to make an appeal to
supporters requesting end-of-year gifts to
aid in the provision of vital operations in
the year to come.
Yes, Iowa Donor Network is one of
these non-profit organizations. As you
thumb through the pages of this edition
of Connections, you will find that we have
done our best to make it easy for you to give
a tax-deductible gift before the calendar
turns to 2016.
This year, in addition to making it easy
for you to provide a generous gift, I want
to provide insight on how your gifts have
a direct and meaningful impact on our
mission and those we serve.
It is through private support that we
are able to provide such a robust outreach
program. Our outreach activities are funded
in large measure by donations that help us
reach all corners of the state with public
awareness events; meetings with key donor
referral contacts like police, fire, hospice
and hospital workers; maintain a strong
social media presence; and host events like
the recent Candlelight Tribute to honor
donors and their families.
In addition, contributions to special
offerings like the Memorial Garden at our
Altoona office (see article at right), make a
meaningful difference in a number of ways.
The Memorial Garden is a living tribute to
SUPPORT IOWA DONOR NETWORK
Iowa Donor Network (IDN) is
a non-profit organization that
operates as the primary contact
for organ, tissue and eye donation
services in the state of Iowa.
The Centers for Medicare and
Medicaid Services have certified
IDN to function as the single organ
procurement agency serving the
state of Iowa.
SUZANNE CONRAD, CEO
Included in this issue of
Connections is an envelope
allowing you to easily
and conveniently make
a contribution. You can
designate your contribution
to the Iowa Donor Registry,
Donor Family Support
Services or the Area of
Greatest Need. Thank you
for your consideration!
“Our outreach
activities are funded,
in large measure, by
donations that help
us reach all corners of
the state with public
awareness events...”
all those who have given the ultimate gift;
offers the opportunity for family members
and friends to memorialize a loved one
with a sculpture, inscription or brick; and
provides a beautiful, well-appointed and
serene setting that serves as an area of
respite for visitors and staff.
I assure you, at Iowa Donor Network, we
see ourselves as stewards of your generous
gifts. We take seriously our role in using
your donations to do the valuable work of
spreading awareness about the importance
of donation.
As 2015 draws to a close and you
consider your giving options, take heart in
knowing that even the smallest gift to Iowa
Donor Network moves us ever closer to a
transplant waiting list of zero.
Please print
your name and
address below
____________
:
____________
____________
____________
_____
____________
___
___
___________
____________
____________
____________
_____
Thank you
for using
your own
sTamp!
Iowa Donor
Netw
ork
attn: Tony ha
kes
550 madison
avenue
north Liberty,
iowa 52317
FOLLOW US ON SOCIAL MEDIA
Winter 2015
Help Our
Garden Grow...
The most visible feature of our new Altoona campus
is the Memorial Garden. Designed as a living
memorial to those who have given the Gift of Life,
we are seeking continued private support to further
develop this space for reflection and respite.
Included in this issue of Connections is a special
insert that offers you the opportunity to support the
Memorial Garden with a gift in honor or memory
of a loved one. Please see the center spread to
learn more about this unique opportunity to
support donor families. All gifts are tax deductible.
We thank you in advance for your thoughtful
consideration of a gift to the Memorial Garden.
3
Iowa Donor Network
HONORING THE GIFT
ANNUAL EVENT OFFERS FAMILIES,
FRIENDS OF DONORS OPPORTUNITY TO
CONNECT, REMEMBER LOVED ONES
Each year, the Donor Family Care department of IDN
coordinates a series of events to honor donors and their
families during the holidays. The Candlelight Tribute
events—formerly known as Hope for the Holidays—
were held in Sioux City, Coralville and Altoona during
November.
In addition to providing an opportunity for the
families and friends of donors to network, the events
featured speakers with specialized knowledge in grief,
a candle lighting ceremony, and a slide presentation
honoring donors.
“An important part of what we do at IDN is reaching
4
out to the families of our
donors to ensure they have
resources available to them to
cope with life after their loved
one has passed,” says Nicole
Beauford, Donor Family Care
Supervisor. “These events
offer an opportunity to
connect with others who are
going through what they are
going through.
“This type of opportunity
is invaluable as these
families travel their grief
journey,” she continues. “It is a
reminder to them that they are not alone.”
FOLLOW US ON SOCIAL MEDIA
Winter 2015
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1
CONNECT WITH IOWA DONOR NETWORK
ELECTRONIC
DELIVERY
Electronic delivery of IDN
Connections is
available. If you
would prefer
to spare IDN
the expense of
printing and
A TRUE
AMBASS
ADOR
postage, simply
send an email
to thakes@
iadn.org and
request an electronic copy.
Connectio
ns
Iow a Do
no r Ne
tw ork
IN THIS
PAGE 2
ISSUE
At Iowa
Donor Netw
we value
your gene ork,
and view
ourselves rosity
stewards
of your as
gifts.
PAGE 3
The Mem
orial Gard
at IDN’s
en
Altoo
offers oppo na office
remembe rtunities to
r loved
ones.
PAGE 4
Candleligh
offers familt Tribute
opportuni ies, friends
ty to conn
ect.
PAGE 6
Donor Jesse
to be mem Jorgensen
orialized
Donate
Life Rose on
Float.
Parade
PAGE 7
Iowa Dono
r Netw
and its
supporter ork
spread
s
awar
importanc eness of the
across the e of donation
state this
fall.
Joey after being presented the
NASCAR Comcast Community
Champion of the Year Award.
Xfinity
series
Community driver and
Iowa
Champ
ion of the native Joey Gase
Year Award
was
for 2015. honored with
the
Gase is
an advoc NASCAR Comca
ate for
donation. st
AFTER
ANOTHE
SEASON
R
ON THE NOTABLE
RECOGN
TRACK,
IZED FOR
GASE
WORK
At just 22-ye
OFF IT
ars-old,
grown fami
Joey
for a team
managed with limited resou
to secur
25 seaso
e a third rces, he
n finish
-straight
Gase has
liar with
in the
driver stand
Top
against
meas
others.
ings, prop Xfinity Cup Serie
best 5th
As a profe uring himself
car racer
Place finish elled by a caree s
ssional
in
three Sprin
stock
rat Talla
Series and the NASCAR
Sprin
competitiv t Cup Series racesdega. In his
only look Xfinity Cup Serie t Cup
e, finish
to the leade
s,
Gase
ing each , he was
It
feedback
is off the
need
rboard
on
for objec
other drive track where race.
performed how he and
tive
Gase blow
rs away
his team
on a given
organ
s
.
As
have
an advo
, tissu
For the
cate for
most part, weekend.
has been e and eye dona
up well
Gase meas
tion, Gase
honored
with his
NASCAR
ures
with the
competito
Comcast
inaugural
rs. Drivi
of the Year
Commun
ng
ity
Award.
The awar Champion
A Publicat
d recog
CONTINUED
nizes
ion
of Iowa
Donor Netw
ON PAGE
ork | Win
5
ter 2015
SOCIAL MEDIA
“I can’t believe Comcast has chosen us as
the Community Champion of the Year. I
know my mom was watching down on us.”
impacting the community. The
award was presented November 23
in Florida.
Gase has long been an advocate
for organ, tissue and eye donation,
and Iowa Donor Network is one
of his many supporters. Gase was
faced with making the decision to
donate his mother’s organs and
tissue after she died suddenly
when he was 18. He regularly
hosts donor families during races,
visits hospitals to meet with those
awaiting transplant, and shares his
story with any and all who want to
hear it.
He says he is humbled to be
recognized for his advocacy efforts.
“I can’t believe Comcast has
chosen us as the Community
Champion of the Year,” Gase says.
The award included a $60,000 gift
in Gase’s honor presented to Iowa
Donor Network. “I know my mom
was watching down on us.”
He says none of it would be
possible without the support of so
many in the donation community.
“I can’t thank Iowa Donor
Network enough for being one of
my first and biggest supporters,”
Gase says. “Also, I offer a big thank
you to all of our other supporters
throughout the organ, eye, and
tissue donation community.”
Gase was nominated to represent
the Xfinity Cup Series. Others
nominated for the award included
Martin Truex Jr. from the Sprint
Cup Series, and Martha Nemechek,
whose sons race in the Camping
World Truck Series.
Read more about the honor
at JoeyGaseRacing.com or
IowaDonorNetwork.org.
Iowa Donor Network has a
robust social media presence
and a full service website.
IowaDonorNetwork.org offers
up-to-date information on donor and
transplant related topics of interest,
and the opportunity to make a
charitable gift. Here is where to find
us:
FACEBOOK
www.facebook.com and search:
“Iowa Donor Network”
INSTAGRAM
@IowaDonorNetwork
TWITTER
@IowaDonor
YOUTUBE
youtube.com/user/IowaDonorNetwork
TOLL FREE
800-831-4131
IDN EVENTS
You Can Always View Upcoming
Events at IowaDonorNetwork.org
5
Iowa Donor Network
LASTING LEGACY
Annually, Iowa Donor Network joins Donate Life America to
memorialize a donor by including an honorary floragraph on
the Donate Life Rose Parade Float. In 2016, Jesse Jorgensen
will be honored. Pictured at left with Jesse’s floragraph are his
parents, John and Mary, who offered the following memorial.
“Jesse Andrew Jorgensen loved the Lord with all his heart,
and everything he did was a result of that. Jesse played just
about anything that involved a ball, was the tuba player for
the school band, and was an overall passionate leader. He had
a charismatic personality, connected easily with people, and
loved his family and friends deeply and showed the love of
Christ practically. The last year of his life was filled with many
special things from meeting his girlfriend Amy to graduating
from high school. When Jesse was pronounced brain dead,
his father knew what to do based off a previous conversation
he’d had with Jesse about organ donation. ‘I won’t need them
anymore,’ Jesse said. ‘What good will they do me?’”
The Rose Parade is held on New Year’s Day in Pasadena,
Calif. and televised on a variety of networks.
CALENDAR OF EVENTS
IOWA DONOR NETWORK: INFOGRAPHIC
VOLUNTEER
ORIENTATION
9
January 9
9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Stoney Creek Hotel
& Conference Center
Sioux City
UNITED STATES
ORGAN
TRANSPLANT
WAITING LIST BY
GENDER
ADVANCED
VOLUNTEER
WORKSHOP WITH
TOASTMASTERS
23
January 23
9 a.m. to 12 p.m.
320 Adventureland Dr. NW
Altoona
Female
48,122
Male
74,339
*NATIONAL TOTAL: 122,439
*As of November 2015. Data subject to change based on future data submission or correction. Totals may be less than the sums due to patients included in
multiple categories. Source: Organ Procurement & Transplantation Network.
6
FOLLOW US ON SOCIAL MEDIA
Winter 2015
1
2
3
RAISING
AWARENESS
Iowa Donor Network and its supporters were out in full force this fall
spreading awareness about the importance of organ, tissue and eye
donation! 1 and 2. Sideline passes were awarded to Cyclone, Hawkeye
and Panther fans (not pictured) as part of IDN’s partnership with the
three universities to encourage fans to join the Iowa Donor Registry.
In 2015, the University of Iowa had the most fans join the registry. 3.
The second annual Pedal for Life ride started from Kinnick Stadium on
October 10. The 12-day ride ended in New Orleans and raised funds
and awareness in support of the IDN mission. 4. A famous face—yes,
that’s Jay Leno—was in Iowa rocking his Alive In Me Foundation
wristband in honor of donor Caleb Shamrell! 5. The family of Emily
Markert, a double lung transplant recipient who passed in 2014,
donated $10,000 to IDN. The funds were raised at the annual 5K
organized in Emily’s memory. 6. National American Miss Iowa finalist,
Mackenzie, is among the generous volunteers at IDN. She has done
work both in the office and in the community, spreading the word about
the importance of organ, tissue and eye. Mackenzie’s uncle is a twotime organ recipient.
4
5
6
7
Iowa Donor Network
550 Madison Avenue
North Liberty, IA 52317-8401
www.iowadonornetwork.org
2011 | 2012 | 2013 | 2014 | 2015
FIND US ONLINE BY SEARCHING “IOWA DONOR NETWORK”
Resolve to Register!
Make a meaningful impact in 2016
by joining the Iowa Donor Registry!
USE YOUR FAVORITE
SMARTPHONE BARCODE
READER TO SNAP A SHOT
OF THE QR CODE BELOW
FOR INSTANT ACCESS TO
OUR DONOR REGISTRY!