A COTA Teenager Who Hoped for a Miracle ... and Received One
Ashley Reese spent most of her life doing what she loved and did very well -- cheerleading. However, at the beginning of her junior year of high school in the fall of 2005, she began experiencing incredible stomach pains. Her parents, ReNell and Mike Patterson, were initially told she was suffering from a ruptured ovarian cyst.
After nearly 50 doctor visits and hundreds of tests, they were hit with devastating news. Ashley was diagnosed with Budd-Chiari, which is a rare disorder caused by blood clots completely blocking the veins that carry blood from the liver. A liver transplant was her only chance for survival.
Ashley's community rallied to help her family and within weeks of hearing the diagnosis, reached out to the Children's Organ Transplant Association (COTA) for assistance. According to ReNell, "We had insurance, but you have to prove financial backing to get on the organ waiting list. With COTA, our team raised a lot of money in a short period of time. By mid-November, Ashley was placed on the transplant waiting list."
The gift of a lifetime came on Christmas Day 2005 when Ashley's family received the call that a liver was available. She was flown to Texas Children's Hospital in Houston where she received her second chance at life on December 27, 2005. Ashley has had a remarkable recovery, and life, since her transplant day.
She was able to return to her high school's cheerleading squad for her senior year. Today, Ashley feels great and is attending South Plains College in Levelland, Texas, where she is pursuing an elementary education degree. Perhaps, one day she will be a cheerleading coach as well.
According to Ashley, "With COTA on my side, I knew that I would get on the transplant list as soon as possible. That gave me incredible hope."
Is Your Holiday List Growing? Create a Plan Now to Relieve the Stress of
Last-Minute Decisions
There are a lot of reasons to wait until the last months of the year to make charitable giving decisions. During this time, you most likely have a broad overview of your tax situation. But more than that, this time of the year, with holidays and family gatherings and moments of giving thanks, spurs generosity and goodwill.
How Will You Do the Most Good in the Holiday Months Ahead?
The first asset most people think of is cash. It's easy to give, easy to use and deductible on your taxes, if you itemize and keep records. But other options can actually increase the value of your gift. Your financial professional can show you how to structure your plans to get the most beneficial results. Here are some options to consider: Securities you have owned for more than one year. Securities that have increased in value can be transferred directly to the Children's Organ Transplant Association (COTA). You receive a tax deduction for the fair market value without paying tax on the capital gain if you donate the security directly. If an investment has lost value, you should sell it and claim the allowable loss on your taxes to maximize your benefit. Then, give the cash proceeds to COTA and claim a deduction.
Life insurance. You can name the Children's Organ Transplant Association (COTA) as the owner and beneficiary of an existing or a new life insurance contract. Such gifts can provide you with tax benefits when structured properly.
What Amount Will Fulfill Your Desire to Help?
Deciding how much to give is a function of several variables, including your income, net worth and commitment to the work we do here at the Children's Organ Transplant Association (COTA). A factor to keep in mind is that tax deductibility makes the cost of donating less than the value we receive to assist transplant-needy children.
Where Will Your Support Do the Most Good?
There are many ways to direct your generosity. Consider which of these ways would most suit your intentions: For our general purposes. These gifts will be used for our everyday requirements or where our Board of Directors determines it is most needed.
For our endowment. Contributing to our endowment ensures that we will have funds available to function far into the future.
For a specific program or in honor of a patient. Funds donated in honor of a specific patient will be used for transplant-related expenses. In the event that the original purpose for your gift is restructured, it is wise to allow us to redirect the funds to a similar case where it is most needed.
Plan Ahead
Carefully consider your options when making these key decisions, but be sure to allow yourself enough time at the end of the year to make thoughtful choices.
Please call us to discuss how including the Children's Organ Transplant Association (COTA) in your plans can enhance your estate. If you need further information, feel free to contact Rick Lofgren at 800.366.2682 or e-mail him
at
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"Going Green", is a common phrase in today's headlines. Definitions on the Web include:
A phrase referring to individual action a person can consciously take to curb harmful effects on the environment through consumer habits.
Taking steps to reduce one's negative effect on the environment.
Environmentalism is a broad philosophy and social movement centered on a concern for the conservation and improvement of the natural environment.
What can "Going Green" and its practice mean for a COTA patient's transplant journey? Here's a literal idea -- a recycling effort adding up to another definition of ‘green' ... green dollar bills.
Many fundraising activities require hours of planning, many volunteers, and loads of publicity. Since recycling is on the general public's mind, consider adding COTA's Recycle for Life program to your list of fundraisers. The program is simple and it costs absolutely nothing for you, your club, organization or business to collect and send used ink jet cartridges and cell phones to a recycling company COTA has contracted with. 100% of the proceeds from your recyclables will be allocated in honor of COTA patients. To learn more about COTA's Recycle for Life program, log onto www.cota.org and click on How You Can Help, email cota@cota.org or call 800.366.2682.
Need even more incentive to get started? Here are some surprising facts:
More than three quarts of oil are used to produce each laser cartridge.
The plastic used in each printer cartridge takes more than 10 centuries (1,000 years) to decompose.
72% of the U.S. population owns cell phones and the average user replaces his or hers every 18 months.
Nationwide, 130 million cellular phones go out of use annually according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and if not recycled properly, this results in an estimated 65,000 pounds of electronic garbage.
And that's just statistics on two recyclables. We can't discount the value to our environment and to our patients of recycling other items as well. Recently, a little girl from Vermont made a difference by collecting bottles and cans to help COTA patient Joseph Krupski. Here's the note that came to COTA with Katie's mother's check:
Ready ... set ... Go Green ... today. Your trash can become a COTA patient's treasure.
COTA Ends Year with Record Number of Children Successfully Transplanted
The Children's Organ Transplant Association (COTA) recently announced that a record-setting number of its children and young adults were successfully transplanted during the past fiscal year. During fiscal year 2008 (July 1, 2007 – June 30, 2008), COTA assisted a record 111 new families, and raised nearly $4 million for patients' transplant-related expenses. Additionally, nearly 80 patients were successfully transplanted, which is the ultimate goal of the organization, during the twelve-month period.
"COTA's unwavering commitment to giving hope and making miracles for each patient family is underscored by the organization's nearly 100,000 volunteers and contributors who, during the past 22 years, have generously donated their time and their money to COTA. To us, these volunteers and contributors are indeed heroes, and are COTA's Miracle Makers," said Rick Lofgren, COTA President and CEO.
"Giving Hope … Making Miracles is more than a slogan for the Children's Organ Transplant Association (COTA) -- it is a guiding vision. Since its inception COTA has become the premier organization providing fundraising assistance to families facing a life-saving transplant by assisting some 1,300 patients. Families from throughout the country, representing every ethnic, economic, religious, and social background, have worked with COTA. Their volunteers and supporters have donated nearly $50 million to assist with transplanted-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, Lofgren noted.
The Children's Organ Transplant Association is a 501(c)3 national charity dedicated to helping families of children and young adults who need or who have had a life-saving transplant. COTA's patients are primarily children, but COTA also serves adults with genetic diseases like Cystic Fibrosis and Sickle Cell Anemia. COTA's mission statement reads: The Children's Organ Transplant Association helps children and young adults who need a life-saving transplant by providing fundraising assistance and family support.
The Children's Organ Transplant Association (COTA) provides: Weekly Processing of Reimbursement Payments
Working through a local Trustee, patients' families submit their payment requests to the Children's Organ Transplant Association. Requests are processed every week. Should a COTA patient require immediate assistance, COTA's staff is available 24 hours a day to assist families with medical emergencies. Families are encouraged to discuss any unique situations with COTA's staff, all of whom are committed to ensuring that each family's needs are
being met.
There are a lot of reasons to wait until the last months of the year to make charitable giving decisions. During this time, you most likely have a broad overview of your tax situation. But more than that, this time of the year, with holidays and family gatherings and moments of giving thanks, spurs generosity and goodwill. 
"Going Green"
The Children's Organ Transplant Association (COTA) recently announced that a record-setting number of its children and young adults were successfully transplanted during the past fiscal year. During fiscal year 2008 (July 1, 2007 – June 30, 2008), COTA assisted a record 111 new families, and raised nearly $4 million for patients' transplant-related expenses. Additionally, nearly 80 patients were successfully transplanted, which is the ultimate goal of the organization, during the twelve-month period. 
