Choirs for a Cause has been a tradition in the Iowa City Community School District for years. Every winter, the funds raised support a local non-profit. This year, Dragonfly Transplant Fund was the selected recipient of the entertaining fundraiser in 2025. A total of $2,975 was raised for Dragonfly through this event!

“Since Deb and I founded The Dragonfly Transplant Fund in 2017, we’ve watched the fund grow and help us move forward in our mission to enhance the need for organ and tissue donor awareness and to help support transplant patients and their families and caregivers during the transplant experience. 2024 is no exception to this movement! Here are a few highlights we’d like to share..”

Our Dragonfly Co-Founder, Ed Brown, had the opportunity to connect with Tully Jackson, a transplant recipient from West Des Moines, Iowa, at the Iowa Donor Network 5K this year. Tully shares her story and her experience with the Dragonfly Transplant Fund with us.

With beautiful weather on our side, volunteers with Dragonfly Transplant Fund were able to attend the Iowa Donor Network Give Life 5K and showcase Dragonfly as a resource for those in the transplant community.

On Friday, August 16th, Dragonfly Transplant Fund hosted its 7th Annual Golf Outing & Fundraiser at Blue Top Ridge Golf Course in Riverside, Iowa. Thanks to the incredible support of our golfers, sponsors, and community supporters, we raised over $65,000 for the fund to support transplant care at the University of Iowa Organ Transplant Center!

Today was a beautiful day for the Iowa Transplant Open at Finkbine Golf Course to support Iowa Donor Network ⛳️

Team golfers include Dragonfly co-founder Ed Brown, Dr. Alan Reed from the University of Iowa Health Care Organ Transplant Center, Jim Cutler, and Rich Overmann.

We are ONE WEEK from the 7th Annual Dragonfly Golf Outing & Fundraiser at Blue Top Ridge Golf Course in Riverside, Iowa! 

​"In 2016, Deb Brown of Cedar Rapids received the gift of life through a liver transplant.  After the transplant Deb and her husband Ed wanted to give back and established the 'Dragonfly Transplant Fund' to raise awareness of the need for organ and tissue donors and to help support transplant patients, their families, and caregivers during the transplant experience. ​ During their travels following Deb’s transplant, Deb and Ed collected miscellaneous Dragonfly jewelry signifying their dedication to transplant awareness.  Sadly, Deb passed away in 2020.  Ed’s giving nature thought perhaps this collection could benefit the campers who attend Camp Courageous---and he was right!  Thanks Ed for sharing your story, and keeping Deb’s memory alive, through this very generous gift to Camp." - July 2024, Camp Courageous Newsletter

​In 2024, Theresa Moore, a nurse in the UIHC Organ Transplant Center, was able to attend the NATCO (The Organization for Donation and Transplant Professionals) Annual Meeting in Orlando, FL with the Dragonfly Transplant Fund scholarship. 

“We have been honored to support the Dragonfly Transplant Fund golf event since its inception and are so impressed with how the event has grown over the years. Dragonfly has made such a positive impact on transplant patients and their families at the UIHC Organ Transplant Center. We can’t be more proud to be apart of supporting the mission and vision that our Aunt Deb and Uncle Ed have made a reality.”

Our Dragonfly Transplant Fund golf committee members are excited to announce our official 2024 Kid Captain for the 7th Annual Dragonfly Transplant Fund Golf Outing & Fundraiser, Peyton!

The Iowa Donor Network planned to host its Give Life 5K at Raccoon River Park in West Des Moines on Saturday, May 4th, 2024, but unfortunately, Mother Nature had other plans. Ed, Nicole, and Star had already made the trek to the western part of Iowa, so they made a stop at the Altoona Iowa Donor Network office to visit our IDN friends! 

“[Through the golf outing,] I’ve made some great friends over the years and I look forward to being a part of the team.  Even though I’m not a golfer myself, it’s great to see everyone enjoying the day and showing their support for Ed, Deb and the organization.”

Celebrating life and honoring the gift of organ, eye and tissue donation!

Mark your calendars! Make plans to attend the 7th Annual Golf Outing for Dragonfly Transplant Fund on Friday, August 16th at Blue Top Ridge Golf Course in Riverside, Iowa!

The Dragonfly Transplant Fund is honored to participate in the Iowa Donor Network Give Live 5K in Des Moines in 2024!

The Dragonfly Transplant Fund volunteers were thrilled to celebrate Valentine's Day with staff at the UIHC Organ Transplant Center today! 

​​Iowa Donor Network (IDN) recently published their 2023 Annual Impact Report. Since 2019, the number of organ donors has increased by 40% and the number of transplants by 21%. Additionally, IDN has seen a signficant increase in volunteer hours and fundraising totals.

“...I wanted to say congratulations for all you have accomplished. We are very proud to support you in your effort, and we look forward to helping again at this year's Dragonfly Transplant Fund golf event... Your dedication to the cause and all that you have been able to accomplish is truly remarkable.”

"We will continue to work hard to create a place for {transplant patients and their families} to go - either online or in-person - to feel supported with transplant research, communications, and celebrations throughout the transplant process. Thank you for your support."