As someone who has covered the charitable sector for 25 years — including the events, successes, issues, volunteers, and too many banquet chicken dinners my waistline cares to remember — I have, very quietly, questioned awareness over the course of days, weeks, months, and years. I’ve come to the realization that Awareness is key.
Helping us to better understand the challenges faced by millions of people experiencing a plethora of illnesses, diseases, and disabilities is important for charities. And once we understand this further, when the ask comes for support, it turns out that soliciting is easier. I get that — absolutely. But … when the awareness campaign flips the calendar page over, the cause, sadly, doesn’t end, does it?
Take for example Living Donor Awareness Week, which started on September 10th and ended on September 16th. The stories on the David Foster Foundation website share in-depth information about selfless generosity at — perhaps — the most profound level. Signing a donor card through no fault of its own, may be only seen as a gift we can only give when God’s angels call us to the next chapter of our being. That, in itself, is wonderful and gives us something to look forward to and extends our gifts, creating a new legacy, which hopefully, carries on for generations to come.
Through my experience as a storyteller, I have found there to be different ways to craft a tale. The old journalism creed of “there are two sides to every story” rings before me with absolute credibility and balance. Yet, it lays the groundwork to look even further than the obvious and to duly search for more voices, and more viewpoints to take our subject. In the case of the David Foster Foundation, it is important that we lay out as much details as possible when it comes to organ donations. Think of new ways and new opportunities to share the grassroots of organ donation to evoke someone to, first, consider making an organ donation, and then, much more significantly, make a donation.
Furthermore, the David Foster Foundation produces a rich and special avenue for strangers to become a personal part of a young child’s life for many years.. While they do not provide the organs, DFF provides financial support to families whose children are undergoing an organ transplant. Unfortunately, that does not start without an organ available,. Sadly, there are currently kids under the age of one that are waiting for a liver or a heart. There are kids aged one through 10 that are waiting for a kidney or a liver, and kids aged 11 to 17 are waiting for a liver and a heart.
Reviewing this more in-depth, it is something to consider. Of course, not every living donor wishes wish to be identified. But the pure joy that comes with the opportunity to help a young child who needs an organ live a life is undeniable. Full of dreams, of hope … of putting their own blueprint on not only their life, but on the world. And, wouldn’t it be extra special if you knew you have an on-going part of their journey? Now a personal disclaimer: this yarn would not have been written if Living Donation Week didn’t flip off the calendar.
Lesson learned.
