Message from COTA President Rick Lofgren

Dear Friend,

“At birth, we were given little hope Major would ever leave the hospital. Then a transplant center 1,800 miles away from home gave us hope … and COTA helped turn that hope into a miracle. COTA gave us a sense of peace about the financial aspects involved with Major receiving his father’s kidney.”

Karroll and Stephanie Key, Parents of Major

I can never adequately thank you for your support of the Children’s Organ Transplant Association (COTA) and our work on behalf of transplant-needy children and families, like the Key family of Texas. Perhaps this family’s words demonstrate to you how important your support of COTA programs, and COTA families, truly is.

Miracle Makers are key volunteers and supporters who help families like Major’s by giving them hope. This theme is at the heart of the work COTA does on behalf of transplant families who desperately need the support we receive from friends like you. My thanks goes out to each of COTA’s Miracle Makers who have helped us give hope and make miracles in all corners of our country.

During the past year when many of us have found it hard to support our favorite charities, COTA has served more than 140 new patients and their families -- an increase of more than 20% over the previous year. COTA’s families’ transplant-related financial needs continue to increase at a time when financial donations are decreasing nationwide. When making your personal giving decisions, I hope you will remember two key tenets -- COTA does not charge patients for its services and COTA ensures that every dollar contributed in honor of patients is used for transplant-related expenses.

As we face numerous challenges and obstacles on behalf of our patients on a daily basis, it is heartwarming to read messages, like the one above from Major’s family, due to the support and compassion of Miracle Makers like you. The hope you provide helps to make miracles for those families who are unable, for whatever reason, to help themselves.

Thank you,

Rick Lofgren, CFRE
President, Children's Organ Transplant Association (COTA)

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