Donor Family Services

At MTF, we strongly believe that donors and their families are the most important element in our work, and that they are entitled to respect, compassionate care and a commitment to the protection and optimal utilization of their precious gifts. To that end, our Donor Services Division provides customized, need-based services to organ, tissue and eye recovery agencies and their communities through donor-related education and support. We do this by:

• Facilitating effective communication between MTF and our recovery partners
• Insuring technical competency of MTF recovery partners
• Insuring compliance in recovery techniques
• Controlling donor-related costs

Services Offered for Donor Families

In addition to supporting our recovery partners in their local and regional efforts to assist donor families, MTF also participates in the following national projects.

• Sympathy Card
• Initial Packet of Information
• Personal Telephone Call
• Letter
• Survey
• Anniversary Card
• Birthday Card
• Holiday Mailings
• Recipient Updates

 For Those Who Give and Grieve (Newsletter)

MTF sponsors a grant to the National Kidney Foundation (NKF) to provide the quarterly newsletter for donor families, For Those Who Give and Grieve, to all donor families who wish to receive it. To receive the newsletter, contact your local recovery agency or NKF at info@kidney.org or call 800-622-9010. To learn more about NKF, the National Donor Family Council and the newsletter, go to www.kidney.org.

Donor Recognition Ceremonies

During NKF’s biennial U.S. Transplant Games, a ceremony is held to pay tribute to those families who have lovingly donated their loved one’s organs and/or tissues. MTF co-sponsors donor families’ attendance to those ceremonies. If you are interested in sponsorship, contact your local recovery agency. To learn more about the transplant games, visit www.kidney.org/recips/athletics.

The DonorCare Award

The MTF DonorCare Award is presented bi-annually to an individual or group that has provided consistent and comprehensive care to all donor families they serve. MTF presented the 2006 award to Cyndie Colarusso, Program Director & Founder, Pathways Thank You Letter Program. The 2004 award was presented to Life Alaska Donor Services and the 2002 award was presented to Penny Colthurst, RN, Donor Family Follow-Up Coordinator, GOL Michigan and Eileen Glass, Co-Founder for the GOLDP Family Support Services Department.

The Next Place

MTF offers Warren Hanson’s book, The Next Place, to recovery partners to distribute to each of their tissue donor families. After each donation, the families receive a letter of appreciation along with an order form describing the book and offering the opportunity to receive a complimentary copy. The Next Place is an inspirational journey of light and hope which has already encouraged many families in their time of loss.

Nicholas Miller Award for Excellence in Donor Family Support

The Nicholas Miller Award honors an MTF affiliated organization or employee(s), or an MTF employee who has a significant commitment to donor family support services. Honorees may also be donor family members or donor family support groups who have participated in community awareness efforts and/or in supporting donor families in some unique way.

The 2005 award winners were Mrs. Jean Smith, a donor mother from Connecticut, and the Donor Family Advisory Committee of Gift of Life Michigan. The 2003 award winner was Barbara Musto of the New York Organ Donor Network. The 2002 award winners were Tina Aguilera, OneLegacy, Ellen Kulik, Finger Lakes Donor Recovery Network and Michelle Lester, Finger Lakes Donor Recovery Network.

The award is named for the eldest son of Thomas and Jayne Miller. Nicholas was a heart transplant recipient and, at the time of his death, provided the gift of sight with the donation of his corneas. Nicholas died just prior to his second birthday. His brief life is captured in the Miller’s book, Baby James. The Millers are committed to donor awareness education and are members of the NKF National Donor Family Council. Jayne serves as a Director of MTF’s Donor Services Division. Nominations for the Nicholas Miller Award can be sent to Jennifer Tanner.