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 Iowa Donor Network's Annual Donor Dash is back in person for the first time since 2019. IDN invites you to join in-person or virtually on Saturday, August 27th at Terry Trueblood in Iowa City. This fun, family-friendly event commemorates the lives of donors, celebrates the lives of recipients, and recognizes those who continue to wait for a lifesaving transplant. (Psst! No running or walking necessary! You can join us from the comfort of your couch.)  Ed and the Dragonfly team had an awesome time at the Iowa Donor Network Green 5K! Gina Schmidt, our official Dragonfly runner, finished the 5K in 30 minutes while Ed and Star made the walk in 1 hour 10 minutes and 16 seconds. It was the perfect day to support IDN. Team Dragonfly raised $385 for IDN this year. We can't wait to walk again in 2023!  Photo shared by Iowa Donor Network  Photo shared by Iowa Donor Network  (L to R): Gina Schmidt, Ed Brown, and Star  The Dragonfly Transplant Fund could not be successful with the involvement of our incredible volunteers. From connecting with the staff at University of Iowa Hospitals & Clinics to planning meetings for transplant patient projects to hosting our annual golf outing fundraiser at Blue Top Ridge Golf Course, thank you so much for volunteering.
You are special to us. We appreciate you and everything you do! Today begins Donate Life Month. We are proud to support Iowa Donor Network and encourage friends, family, and loved ones to register as organ, eye and tissue donors and to honor those that have saved lives through the gift of donation. Together, through spreading the word and educating others about donation, we can take small steps each day towards saving more lives. Register now at https://www.iowadonornetwork.org/register.   Our team of volunteers is beyond excited to be back at Blue Top Ridge Golf Course in Riverside, Iowa for our 5th Annual Golf Outing & Fundraiser to support the Dragonfly Transplant Fund!
Registration is now open. Sponsorship opportunities are available. Questions? Comments? Connect with our volunteers here.  Join Team Dragonfly for the Iowa Donor Network Green 5K! Walk in-person on May 7th at Racoon River Park in West Des Moines, walk with us virtually, or make your donation to stay comfy on your couch and still support.
This fun, family-friendly event commemorates the lives of organ donors, celebrates the lives of transplant recipients, and recognizes those who continue to wait for the lifesaving transplant. Our team walks in memory of our co-founder, Deb Brown, who received a liver transplant at University of Iowa Hospitals & Clinics in 2016. Deb passed away in 2020, but her memory lives on through the Dragonfly Transplant Fund.  Ed Brown, co-founder of the Dragonfly Transplant Fund, poses with the display in the UIHC Organ Transplant center. (Photo by N. Tallman) On Monday, February 14th, 2022, the Dragonfly Transplant Fund was fortunate enough to celebrate the success of the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics' Organ Transplant Center by providing 55 boxed brunches to team members at the UIHC Organ Transplant Center.
In 2021, the UIHC Organ Transplant Center celebrated another record-breaking year with 150 organ transplants. These transplants included 121 kidney transplants (48 from living donors), 19 liver transplants (1 from a living donor), and 10 pancreas transplants. The team at the UIHC Organ Transplant Center includes surgeons, medical physicians, administrative staff, pharmacists, nurse transplant coordinators, psychologists, physician assistants with transplant specialties, social workers, and financial counselors dedicated to transplant cases. The volunteers with the Dragonfly Transplant Fund were thankful to be able to provide a special Valentine's Day brunch for the team in the UIHC Organ Transplant Center. The boxed brunch was catered by friends of the Dragonfly Transplant Fund, The Bread Garden Market. Special Valentine's Day additions to the boxed brunch included cream cheese brownies, rainbow brownies, and cappuccino brownies. Ed Brown, co-founder of the Dragonfly Transplant Fund, is proud to have been able to deliver the lunches personally to the UIHC Organ Transplant Center staff. Brown feels that if he is able to support the UIHC Organ Transplant Center staff, then he is able to help others who are part of the organ transplant process. “Deb and I hope our giving helps transplant patients, their families and caregivers improve their quality of life, as well as motivate them to give back,” says Brown.
 RESCHEDULED TO FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 4TH
12 p.m. (CST) Hear several inspiring stories about the impact of organ donation and the life-saving work happening at the Organ Transplant Center at University of Iowa Hospitals & Clinics during an upcoming virtual event. Join Alan Reed, M.D., director or the University of Iowa´s Organ Transplant Center, Kim Burdakin, a liver transplant recipient, and NASCAR driver Joey Gase, whose late mother donated multiple organs following a sudden brain aneurysm. The group will talk about their personal experiences with organ and tissue donation - while also discussing the important transplant work happening at the university and in the state of Iowa. Register to join this virtual event. This special discussion is presented in partnership between the University of Iowa Center for Advancement and Iowa Donor Network. Chat from the Old Cap is a series of virtual engagement sessions featuring Iowa alumni and friends sharing stories from their careers, backgrounds, and the university that unites us. 
The Dragonfly Transplant Fund had an active and exciting year in 2021!
The year kicked off with a Valentine’s celebration brunch for the office staff at the UIHC Transplant Center. The celebration was to recognize the record breaking number of transplant recipients in 2020 at UIHC at 103 patients! In partnership with the Bread Garden Market, Dragonfly volunteers delivered box brunches to all the office staff at their work stations. Reports indicate that 2021 may break the record again. In April, the Dragonfly put together a team to participate in the lowa Donor Network Green 5K and raised over $500 for Iowa Donor Network. In case you didn’t know, April is Donate Life Month. In August, we held our 4th Annual Golf Outing at Blue Top Ridge Golf Course in Riverside, Iowa. 2021 was the best year yet! With over 100 golfers and more than 50 volunteers, we raised over $28,000 donations for the Dragonfly cause. A highlight of the event was to have a number of both organ donors and recipients present at the event. Great job, Dragonfly Golf Committee! In addition to the golf outing in August, we were able to host Deb's Celebration of Life. In recognizing her courage and our vision, an endowed memorial fund was established. This fund will use its annual earnings to provide educational scholarships for the nurses and staff at the UIHC Transplant Center. To honor Deb's legacy, this fund is named the "Deb & Ed Brown Endowed Dragonfly Fund for Transplant Support.” We owe a big thank you to the University of lowa Center for Advancement for their help and guidance in making this happen. Deb and I wanted to say thank you to everyone at UIHC. It’s a fact that a more knowledgeable staff will help everyone. To close out the year, the Dragonfly Action Steering Committee committed 10% of the current Dragon- fly fund to be used to enhance the transplant process for UIHC patients, families and caregivers. We asked the transplant nursing staff for their input and received valuable ideas as to how we can help make this happen. We can’t wait to show everyone what awesome things are coming in 2022 with this allocation! I would be remiss if I didn't make note of the growth that the Dragonfly has experienced in the media and marketing department throughout the whole year. Our Dragonfly website and Facebook have proven to be a valuable method of communication and these digital marketing tools have helped us grow awareness for the need for more people to sign up to be organ donors. To everyone who is a donor, we have to say THANK YOU! 
No, we have not accomplished our long-term goal - yet! A physical resource center and lounge for
transplant patients, caregivers, and families within the walls of UIHC to provide the support their needs is still to come. Once our goal is achieved, the Dragonfly Resource Center will provide a physical space to foster a community of support and survivorship. When I reflect on the Dragonfly’s accomplishments in 2021, it’s obvious that it was a great year - and the best is yet to come! Where Dragonfly is today and where Dragonfly will be in the future is all because of you and your support. From our Dragonfly family to you, thank you, thank you, thank you - and happy holidays! Sincerely, Ed Brown Co-Founder of the Dragonfly Transplant Fund |
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AuthorsVolunteers with the Dragonfly Transplant Fund established by Ed and Deb Brown are dedicated to supporting the UIHC Organ Transplant Center through giving. We share their stories, fundraising efforts, and memories here with followers, friends, and family who support the Dragonfly Transplant Fund. 
Click here to learn more about the UIHC Transplant Center in Iowa City, Iowa.Archives
October 2022
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