Newsletters

News of Note

A New Year... Shifting Gears
July marks Donate Life Northwest's 33rd anniversary, years of opportunities to assess, goals and budgets to meet, and dreams come true. Above all, we celebrate 32 years of helping save lives and restore sight and mobility by educating the public in Oregon and SW Washington about the importance and impact of organ, eye and tissue donation.

PLANNING is the order of the day - planning based on experience and evaluation, on best practices shared by our Donate Life partners across the U.S., and on the explosion of internet capabilities, shifting demographics, and the ever-growing transplant waiting list. Here's the 2008-2009 framework:

• Oregonians 15-18 years old now can put a "D" on their permit, license or ID card. Donate Life Northwest will increase the number of high school freshmen and sophomores who learn before they go to the DMV what it means to be a designated donor. Potential "new" venues for student education, in addition to our established in-class presentations, Discover OHSU! and student projects, are driver's education classes and 9th grade health classes. Plans are underway to strengthen our collaboration with Oregon's two blood banks, especially through high school blood drives, to increase both blood donation and donor designations.
• The donor designation on a license, permit or ID card is considered consent to donate, and 98% of designated donors do so through their DMV. Continuing to educate DMV employees, particularly front-line staff, about the importance of why and how they ask the "D" question is critical to increasing donor designations. Donate Life Northwest will work with DMV policy makers, field service managers and customer service supervisors to increase their staff's understanding of the power of donation and transplantation and seek ways to increase donor designations through DMV.
• Hispanic people represent the fastest growing segment of our population. Donate Life Northwest will launch a 3-year grass roots campaign to increase education and donor designation amongst our Hispanic population.
• The internet offers immense potential for reaching and educating the general public. A technology ad hoc committee and a pro-bono offer from Portland's SEM PDX, a search engine optimization concern, is helping propel an 18-month Donate Life Northwest website redesign. Our website will become our primary collateral piece. The first stage will roll out fall 2008.
• Measurable, realistic objectives and outcomes are a priority among Donate Life agencies across the U.S. Gone are the days of blanketing our service area with Donate Life messages wherever and however possible to create awareness about organ, eye and tissue donation. We are evaluating every opportunity/event and all collateral and promotional materials to determine responsible uses of our resources. What really results in a donor designation?
• Personal connections and stories are the most compelling way to effect donor designation decisions. Selected outreach events using more targeted messaging and fewer promotional items, more effective use of our volunteer force, and integrating the power of the internet will become standard procedure.

So, yes, "the times they are a'changin'." We're excited to share our plans with you and look forward to reporting measurable results on a quarterly basis.

Grant Helps Launch Done Vida Project
Donate Life Northwest is very excited to announce a $20,000 grant awarded by the Collins Foundation. These funds will help launch a grass roots campaign to increase education and donor designation amongst Oregon's Hispanic population.

Hispanic people comprise nearly 18 percent (175 individuals in Oregon/Washington) of those awaiting a lifesaving organ transplant. Yet they represent only about 10% of donors.

Eliminating language barriers, building trust and dispelling common myths will be key components of the multi-phase project which will include identifying and training bi-lingual volunteers and health professionals, a coordinated radio and print campaign, and translating collateral materials.

Dollars & Sense

Double Flight:
Donate Life Northwest's 15th Annual Golf Tournament will take place on August 12, 2008 at the beautiful Reserve Vineyards & Golf Club in Aloha, Oregon. There is still plenty of opportunity to golf in this first-ever "double-flight" tournament, where both 18-hole courses will be utilized. If you wish to participate in this tournament, just visit Donate Life Northwest's Web site or contact Susan at 503.494.5388 to request a golf registration form.

Phil Lane of Lexus of Portland, the Presenting Partner of this event says, "As a proud sponsor for the Donate Life Northwest Golf Tournament, Lexus of Portland hopes to encourage participation in this program that provides donor recipients the hope and second chance for a new life. Through education and awareness, life can be renewed for those in our community. Whether it is a family member, friend or a Lexus guest that purchases vehicles from us, many lives continue to be touched by the importance of this program and the stories that are shared."

100% of the net income raised from the tournament will be used to fund Donate Life Northwest's lifesaving educational programs. Please submit your golf registration forms today!

Raffle Request
We need the help of friends like you in order to sell some of Donate Life Northwest's 750 raffle tickets and raise $15,000 to benefit our programs. Raffle tickets are just $20.00 a piece.

We are distributing raffle tickets to ticket sellers in bundles of twenty, ten, or five. Every little bit helps. If each Donate Life Northwest volunteer or contributor sold just one ticket, we would have no trouble raising $15,000. Ask your friends and family if they would like to participate.

The raffle drawing will take place August 12, 2008 at 7:00 PM at the Reserve Golf Club in Aloha, Oregon. Individuals need not be present to win one of the following five great prizes:

Grand Prize: Roundtrip airfare for 2 on Alaska Airlines (Retail value: $1,000; some restrictions apply)
2nd Prize: Chinook Winds Getaway : Enjoy an overnight stay, with two show tickets and two wonderful dinners (Value: $400)
3rd Prize: Metolius River Getaway: Enjoy a weekend stay (Oct 3-4) in a beautiful cabin on the banks of the Metolius River in Central Oregon (Value: $470)
4th Prize: Wine Tasting Tour and private tasting at Willamette Valley Vineyards (Value: $150)
5th Prize: Handcrafted Jewelry Set by Jessica Vasi : Designed especially for Donate Life Northwest (Value: $300)

All raffle proceeds benefit Donate Life Northwest's lifesaving programs. The individual to sell the most tickets will receive a small basket of goodies and be taken out to lunch with Mary Jane Hunt, Donate Life Northwest Executive Director.

For more information on purchasing or selling these raffle tickets, contact Susan at chrzanow@ohsu.edu or 503.494.5388. We hope we can rely on you for support!

Save the Date:
Bovine and Wine : August 2, 2008 at Bethany Vineyards in Ridgefield. The Bovine and Wine Benefit Dinner was established by a local liver recipient to raise funds for Donate Life Northwest's lifesaving programs. Tickets are $65. Please purchase by July 21st.

15th Annual Golf Tournament : August 12, 2008 at Reserve Vineyards & Golf Club in Aloha. First-ever "double-flight," utilizing both 18-hole courses at the reserve. $225 per player, $900 for a foursome.

Lifesavers Breakfast : October 23, 2008 at the Oregon Convention Center in Portland. As Donate Life Northwest's largest fundraiser, this year's program will feature Annamarie Ausnes and her living kidney donor and Starbucks barista, Sandie Andersen.

The Executive Branch

Hellos and Goodbyes...
Donate Life Northwest is pleased to welcome Jessica Vasi as our new Administrative Assistant. Jessica spent six years at the Portland Art Museum as well as volunteering for Donate Life Northwest since 2004. Her interests include art, design and fine craft and she makes jewelry in her spare time.

"As a liver transplant candidate, this opportunity allows me to be a bigger part of an organization taking positive action to help others such as myself." - Jessica

As we welcome Jessica into her new role, we say goodbye to Lila Isbell. Lila, Associate Director, recently left Donate Life Northwest, to explore new professional interests and career fields. Lila's contributions with the implementation of the Registry and operational systems will have a lasting effect. We wish her the best of luck.

Volunteers in Action

Summer Volunteer Opportunities
Welcome to our volunteer opportunities section!! Please take a look at the upcoming opportunities by clicking on the link below. Let Sara know if you are interested in volunteering. While summer months may be slower, we have open events that still need volunteers: the Bovine & Wine Fundraiser, 15th annual Golf Tournament, a Speaker for the Kiwanis Club of Portland… just to name a few. Check them out!

Help Needed
Hello Fellow Volunteers! Next month brings two great events: Bovine and Wine and the Golf Tournament! Our tradition has been to raffle off themed gift baskets during the Bovine and Wine dinner and to raffle door prize items/baskets at the golf tournament. The Fund Development Committee is asking for your help with collecting items. Who do you know that could donate an item? Ask your hair dresser if their product vendor might be willing to donate. Maybe your favorite restaurant, golf course, movie theatre, Starbucks, gym, bakery, bookstore, craft store, massage, manicure/pedicure, winery... you name it, we can use it to create a basket! Theme's can be food, entertainment, even color… make a basket full of green items. You and 5 of your best friends could each make a couple dozen cookies and wham...who doesn't love cookies!

Think big and think small....anything and everything will be a welcome addition. If you have any questions, please feel free to email or call me. Plan to drop off your items at the Donate Life office by July 25th. Thanks in advance for all your assistance.

Laura Peterson
laura@petersonsphotography.com
503-421-7813
800-572-4746

Les Schwab Does More Than Tires
Thanks in large part to the hard work of Eugene volunteer Kathy Westmoreland, Donate Life Northwest has received permission from Les Schwab management to ask local managers across the State to become our Community Champions. This is a great opportunity for volunteers to make a difference in their community. We encourage and support anyone who is interested in "adopting" their local Les Schwab, keeping mind that participating will be up to the discretion of individual store managers. Already 5 stores in the Eugene/Springfield area have happily agreed to display our brochures in their lobby!

If you are interested in getting involved, please contact Sara at 503.494.3525 or lewissa@ohsu.edu. We can provide an official introduction letter to give to store managers as well as brochures and brochure holders to put in the lobby. We will be counting on our volunteers and community members to approach their local Les Schwab and be responsible for periodically checking in and keeping the brochures in stock. It is through the sharing of each of your own powerful connections to organ donation that those around you will be inspired to take action! Thank you for all that you do.

Volunteer Mileage Reimbursement through the IRS
DID YOU KNOW? Volunteers can claim a 14 cent per mile tax exemption if they itemize on their taxes and keep their own accurate records. Please consult your tax professional or financial advisor for more information. Click Here for the IRS document outlining the 2008 reimbursement rates.

Star of the Month

Donate Life Northwest is pleased to announce Eric Brown as our June 2008 Star of the Month. Eric Brown has served on Donate Life Northwest's Board of Directors for three years. In this time, he has gone above and beyond as a volunteer and as a leader. We wish to recognize Eric for his guidance and dedication to ensure that Donate Life Northwest's lifesaving programs thrive today and in the future.

In the past months, Eric has served as Chair of Donate Life Northwest's Leadership Committee where he helped establish a solid foundation for Board recruitment and retention. In developing a system to identify, recruit and train potential Board members, Eric's efforts on the Leadership Committee will ultimately provide Donate Life Northwest with a skilled and talented Board of Directors, now and for years to come. Recently appointed Chair of the Fund Development Committee, Eric has engaged Donate Life Northwest's Board of Directors in fundraising efforts, while establishing and monitoring fundraising goals for the organization. Eric has also worked closely with Donate Life Northwest employees to launch staff enhancement and retention practices.

Eric Brown has donated countless hours of his time in the past year to help carry out Donate Life Northwest's mission and lifesaving message. We are acknowledging Eric for his proactive ideas and hard work. He is critical to the growth and success of Donate Life Northwest.