COTA Gives And Makes Miracles Come True, By Iris Dean
Since
its founding in 1986, the Children's Organ Transplant
Association has become the premier organization providing
fundraising assistance to families facing a life-saving
transplant by assisting some 1,400 patients. Families from
throughout the country, representing every ethnic, economic,
religious and social background, have worked with COTA. Over the
years their volunteers and supporters have donated nearly $55
million to assist with transplant-related expenses.
COTA is proud to announce that 80 COTA patients were
successfully transplanted during its 2009 fiscal year that ended
June 30th. That brings the total number of COTA patients
transplanted to more than 950 in the 23 years COTA has served
transplant-needy families. "COTA's unwavering commitment to
giving hope and making miracles for each patient family is
underscored by the organization's nearly 150,000 volunteers and
contributors who, during the past 23 years, have generously
donated their time and their money to COTA," said Rick Lofgren,
COTA President and CEO.
An important benchmark for any non-profit organization is the
percent of expenditures used for program-related activities. In
the past year, COTA reported that 89% of COTA's operational
expenses were directed toward patient care and organ, tissue and
marrow donor education program activities. "Giving Hope Making
Miracles is more than a slogan for the Children's Organ
Transplant Association -- it is a guiding vision," said Scott
Price, COTA's Chairman of the Board. "On behalf of COTA's Board
of Directors, it is my pleasure to report that more than $3.7
million was raised to help meet transplant-related expenses of
COTA patients during fiscal year 2009. COTA's Board of
Directors is committed to ensuring that every dollar donated for
our patients is used for patient care."
"COTA was founded in 1986 when one child from Bloomington,
Indiana, needed a liver transplant to survive. The local
community rallied around this child's family and raised more
than $100,000 in two months' time. Sadly, that little boy died
before a liver became available, but their efforts were not in
vain. I expect we will be celebrating another milestone when we
announce the name of our 1,400th patient in the coming weeks,"
said Lofgren. "In addition, COTA augments the funds our
volunteers raise by providing a challenge grant of up to
$10,000," said Price. "This COTA program has distributed more
than $2,600,000 to COTA fundraising campaigns since 2000."
The Children's Organ Transplant Association is a national
charity that provides fundraising assistance and family support
for children needing life-saving transplants. COTA's priority
is to assure that no child or young adult is denied a transplant
or excluded from a transplant waiting list due to lack of
funds. 100 percent of all funds raised in honor of patients are
used for transplant-related expenses. Along the way COTA's team
of professionals and these families have shared tears, conquered
huge obstacles, hoped, and together, have celebrated more than
two decades worth of miracles.
