Gift of Life

Two of Lauren's five (5) organ recipients: From left, Bob, Lauren's liver recipient; Maryann, Lauren's lung recipient; Also in photo, Lauren's sister Hannah; father Michael; sister Liz; and mother Mary Ann at the 2008 Fitzy's 5K Halloween Event.

 

The Gift of Life Organization

The Gift-of-Life Donor Program is a nonprofit organization serving the eastern half of Pennsylvania, southern New Jersey and Delaware, and is responsible for recovering and distributing organs and tissues used in life-saving and life-enhancing transplants.

Founded in 1974 by the Greater Delaware Valley Society of Transplant Surgeons, Gift of Life is one of the oldest and largest of 58 organ procurement organizations (OPO) in the United States. Gift of Life is part of the nationwide organ and tissue sharing network run by the United Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS).

In addition, Gift of Life coordinates life-enhancing tissue transplants for area residents who are in need of corneas for sight-restoring procedures, as well as skin, tissue and bone to repair injuries.

Gift of Life partners with 150 acute care hospitals to offer families from around the region the option of donation.

Gift of Life Donor Program Mission Statement

  • Improve the quality of life of patients awaiting transplantation by maximizing the availability of donor organs and tissues while upholding the highest medical, legal, ethical, and fiscal standards;
  • Work in partnership with the region's hospitals and health care professionals to ensure that the family of each potential donor is offered the option of donation in a sensitive and caring manner;
  • Provide educational programs and materials to positively predispose all members of the community to organ and tissue donation so that the donation is viewed as a fundamental human responsibility;
  • Serve as a community resource by providing support for families of donors as well as transplant recipients and their families, and;
  • Serve as a leader in the advancement of organ and tissue donation and transplantation.

Gift of Life Donor Program Core Values

Employees of Gift of Life Donor Program strive daily to integrate the following core values in their professional life:

  • Professional Integrity: Build trust, admit mistakes and act honorably in carrying out all professional responsibilities;
  • Expertise/Knowledge: Demonstrate job knowledge and continually seek new information to advance the Gift of Life Donor Program mission;
  • Excellence: Achieve the best possible results in every situation;
  • Commitment: Demonstrate through actions a strong desire to do everything possible to help Gift of Life succeed in its mission and goals;
  • Compassion: Demonstrates appreciation and respect for the perspectives of others and responds appropriately;
  • Teamwork: Effectively collaborate with others internally and externally to achieve common goals, and;
  • Advocacy: Act in strong support of donation and transplantation and represent/promote the mission effectively.

 Gift-of-Life Donor Program organization website