The Living Bank Winter Newsletter

WINTER 2018

connections WWW.LIVINGBANK.ORG

Living organ donors

Education

Community Advocacy Support

Information ADVANCING LIVING ORGAN DONATION TO CONFRONT THE CRITICAL SHORTAGE OF ORGANS NEEDED FOR LIFESAVING TRANSPL ANTS.

LETTER FROM OUR CEO

T

his has been a special year for The Living Bank as we celebrated our 50th anniversary! I am humbled to be at the helm of an organization that made its indelible mark on organ donation and transplantation a half century ago.

It all began at dinner one evening in 1968. Five Houston women discussed how they could donate their organs when they died. They discovered that no formal way to donate existed. These five women, Dr. Joan Anderson, Glen Karsten, Louise Johnson, Esther Phillips, and Louise Robertson took action and established The Living Bank as the nation’s first organ donor registry. Today, living organ donation drives our mission. All it takes is a peek at the next page to see why.

I am excited to share ADVOCATES FOR LIFE, the important initiative we will launch in the New Year.

Currently, living organ donors complete a two-year

WE WANT TO THANK OUR LOCAL MEDIA FOR HELPING US SPREAD THE WORD.

Our CEO joined Deborah Duncan of Great Day Houston to discuss the importance of The Living Bank. The show featured a performance by Angelica Hale singing Hero in honor of all living organ donors.

We are excited to join Houston Newsmakers with Khambrel Marshall this December.

federally mandated follow-up program. At the end of their follow-up period, there is nothing in place to provide ongoing support. The Living Bank will bridge that void.

Our social workers, with combined transplant experience of 55 years, and our committed staff will foster lifetime relationships with and among living organ donors who desire a community of support after donation.

We cannot embark on Advocates for Life without your commitment. As you plan your year-end giving, I ask you to consider a gift to The Living Bank in support of Advocates for Life, a first-of-its kind program, just as The Living Bank was the first of its kind 50 years ago.

With thanksgiving,

Kelly Perdue

GREAT GIFT IDEAS Visit our SHOP online: www.livingbank.org/shop Check out our custom-designed silk ties and other living donor memorabilia for purchase.

O A o t s

Of the 114,000 people waiting for a lifesaving transplant,

83

%

114,258 NATIONAL TRANSPLANT WAITING LIST AS OF NOVEMBER 2018 Based on Organ Procurement and Transplantation Network (OPTN) Data

are waiting for a kidney

97,383

12% are waiting for a liver

13,746

LIVING ORGAN DONATION living organ donation defined

3,986

The process of a living person donating their kidney, or portion of their liver, to another person in need of a lifesaving transplant. Living organ donors, usually a loved one or family friend, offer an alternative to waiting years on the national transplant list for a deceased organ donor.

Living organ donation offers hope and a second chance at life to recipients.

1,468

the need for living organ donation ~ There is a critical shortage of organs available for transplant. ~ There are over 114,000 people waiting for a lifesaving transplant. ~ 83 percent are waiting for a kidney. ~ 12 percent are waiting for a liver.

896 251

ONLY ABOUT 30 PERCENT OF THOSE IN NEED OF A KIDNEY RECEIVE THEIR SECOND CHANCE AT LIFE EACH YEAR.

what are the most common organs transplanted through living organ donation? ~ Kidney ~ Liver

who can be a living organ donor? ~ A family member, friend and even a stranger ~ A person in good overall physical and mental health who is 18 years of age or older

The need for organs is vastly greater than the number available for transplantation .

On October 26, 2018 we celebrated our 50th Anniversary and honored our heroes, living organ donors, marveling at the lives saved by their extraordinary gifts. The evening featured singer and living kidney recipient, Angelica Hale.

As many of you know, our Board Chair and living kidney donor, Mark J. Biscone, PhD, is taking on a five-year mountain climbing challenge across the globe to raise money for living organ donation awareness and advocacy.

December 1st, he leaves for Ecuador, on South America’s West coast, and will attempt to summit two mountains, Mt. Chimborazo and Mt. Cotapaxi. Mark donated his kidney in April 2017.

LOOK FOR UPDATES IN THE COMING WEEKS AT WWW.LIVINGBANK.ORG/A-HEROS-CHALLENGE

HERE ARE SIMPLE WAYS TO MAKE A GIFT TO THE LIVING BANK:

Name __________________________________________________________ Address _________________________________________________________

B ELOW A RE SUG G E S TE D GIF T TY P E S TH AT CAN B E G I V EN N OW D U R ING YO U R L IF E TIME ,

City/State/Zip ___________________________________________________

O R SET UP AS A PL A NNE D GIF T TO TH E LIVING BA N K .

1. GIFT S OF CASH : This is the simplest and easiest way for you to make a gift. You will receive a charitable tax deduction providing you with potential savings on the same year’s tax return.

2. GIFT S OF STOC K S A ND B O ND S : A gift of your appreciated securities, including your stocks and bonds, is easy to make. You could avoid capital gains taxes that would otherwise be due if you sold them directly.

~ Schwab Client Name: The Living Bank International ~ Schwab Acct. Number: 8137-9091 ~ Schwab DTC Clearing Number: 0164 3. GIFT S OF RET I RE M E NT AS S E TS : A gift of your IRA, 401(k), 403(b), pension or other tax-deferred plan is an excellent, simple way to make a gift. This allows you to enjoy your current income, and to still support the mission of The Living Bank as a named beneficiary.

If you are over age 70½, you can make a tax-free transfer from an IRA directly to The Living Bank now.

4 . GIFT S OF PROPE R TY : A gift of real estate or other appreciated property such as a home, vacation property, vacant land, farmland, mineral rights, commercial property, collectible or jewelry can make an excellent choice to offset a potential capital gains tax.

5 . GIFT S OF I N SURA NCE P O L ICIE S : This gift can be made outright for cash value, or by naming The Living Bank as beneficiary. If your life insurance policy is no longer needed, or will no longer benefit your survivors, consider a transfer of ownership to The Living Bank of your paid-up policy.

TALK TO YOUR F I N A NCIA L A DV IS O R O R ATTO RN EY A BOUT WAY S TO C R E ATE A MEANIN G F UL WAY TO H E L P U S CO NTINU E TO SERVE T H E LI V I N G O R GA N DO NO R CO M M U NI TY THROU G H YOUR ES TATE .

The Living Bank is a 501(C)(3) nonprofit organization – Tax ID 74-1607315

Cell __________________________Alt. Phone_________________________ Email __________________________________________________________

MENU OF GIVING If you are interested in furthering The Living Bank’s mission, we ask that you consider giving through the following means: S UP P O R T T H E LIV IN G B AN K ALL Y E AR W IT H A G IFT OF

$________________ each month ___ I/we would like to make monthly payments for a total donation of $ _________________ ___ I/we would like to make quarterly payments for a total donation of $ _________________ ___ I/we would like to make a one-time donation of $ _______________ ___ $5,000 ___ $2,500 ___ $1000 ___ $500 ___ $350 ___ $200 ___ $100 ___ other $________________ ___ My company has a matching gift program and would like to contribute $_____________________ I/we would like this donation to support: __ Advocates for Life __ A Hero’s Challenge, 2018 Mark’s Climb for Life __ Area of greatest need ~

Shop for merchandise online www.livingbank.org/shop

Please make this generous donation in [ ] honor of or [ ] memory of ________________________________________________________________ PAY M E N T O P T IO N S :

[ ] Credit card:

[ ] Visa

[ ] Master Card

[ ] Amex

[ ] Discover

Name on card ___________________________________________________ Card number_____________________________________________________ Exp. Date ________________________CVV Code ______________________ Signature _______________________________________________________ [ ] Check payable to The Living Bank

If you prefer to pay by phone or wish to make a non-cash gift please call us at 713.961.9431.

Nonprofit Org. U.S. Postage PAID Houston, Texas Permit #9110

4545 Post Oak Place Dr., Suite 340 Houston, Texas 77027

THE LIVING BANK PROGRAMS ADVOCATES FOR LIFE

An initiative to establish lifetime connections with and among living organ donors. We want living donors, the heroes among us, to always have a place to come to; whether they need help navigating life issues; desire a community with their fellow donors and recipients; or simply want to share their story with others.

THE POWER OF LIFE: LIVING ORGAN DONOR AWARENESS

Provides education on living donation to allow communities to make informed health decisions.

INDEPENDENT LIVING DONOR ADVOCACY (ILDA)

Serves the Texas Medical Center transplant centers and distant site locations via telehealth. Our licensed clinical transplant social workers serve as ILDAs to promote the best interests of living donors to ensure their decision is informed and free from coercion.

INDEPENDENT LIVING DONOR ADVOCATE NETWORK™ (ILDAN™)

Provides professional development and continuing education credit to nurses, social workers and other ILDA health professionals in transplant centers across the nation.

BOARD OFFICERS

THE LIVING BANK STAFF

Mark J. Biscone, PhD, FACHE, Chairman, Living Kidney Donor

Kelly Perdue, CPA, President and CEO

Josh Tabin, Vice Chairman, MosaicCFO

Cathleen Thomas, Program Coordinator

Kathleen Wood, Secretary, Living Kidney Donor

Teresa Radosti, Development and Database Specialist

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

INDEPENDENT LIVING DONOR ADVOCATES

J. Steve Bynon, MD, FACS, Memorial Hermann Hospital

Shelley Spector, LCSW, CCTSW Director of Social Work Services

Salil V. Deshpande, MD, MBA UnitedHealthcare Community Plan of Texas

Sharon Coplon, LMSW

A. Osama Gaber, MD, FACS, Houston Methodist

Lisa Getz, LCSW

David M. Gregory, Locke Lord LLP

Stephanie Ostrosky, LCSW

Diesa Samp, MHA, RN, Texas Children’s Hospital

Rebecca Stiemens, LCSW, CCTSW

ADVISORY BOARD Shahzad Bashir, Morae Legal

Jan Taylor, LCSW, CCTSW-MCS GET SOCIAL WITH US!

Michael C. Braun, MD, FASN, Texas Children’s Hospital Judith Craven, MD, MPH Carolyne B. Oliver Michael Skelly, Clean Line Energy Partners LLC

7 13.961.9431 INF O@ LIV INGB ANK.ORG WWW.LIV INGB ANK.ORG