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 Organ & Tissue Donation Shining Star
Award
 Honoring exceptional dedication,
outstanding support, novel partnerships and/or extraordinary efforts in the
area of organ and tissue donor awareness.
Nominations can be submitted for
an individual or organization. Nominations should be based on organ and
tissue donation-related achievements within the twelve (12) months preceding
the nomination deadline. The nomination should explain and give specific
examples of how the individual or organization has demonstrated an
extraordinary level of service or commitment. Community service activities
may be used to support a nomination.
Organizations demonstrating
originality or innovative methods of promoting the need for organ donation
are also suitable candidate. Examples include partnering with other
organizations to reach new audiences or maximize the effectiveness of
current programs.
Secretary of State Terri Lynn Land has recognized the following people or groups with a Shining Star award for their exemplary work in promoting organ and tissue donor awareness:
Remonia Chapman; Ann Arbor |
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Remonia Chapman's work as program director for MOTTEP Gift of Life Michigan - Minority Organ Transplant Training and Education Program
- has led to its national recognition as a model program due to its community collaboration, partnerships and strategic planning. MOTTEP seeks to educate minority communities about organ donation and the need for donors. MOTTEP
participates in more than 400 community-based events each year promoting the
importance of organ and tissue donation in multicultural populations. The
Shining Star award recognized Chapman for her hard work to help save lives
through organ donation.
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| Beverly Cherwinski; Vanderbilt |
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As a lung transplant recipient, Beverly Cherwinski has been a tireless advocate for organ and tissue donation. She is especially noted for organizing
rosebush planting ceremonies in honor of organ and tissue donors, their families and recipients. Cherwinski is founder of the Northern Michigan Transplant Group in Gaylord and is active in the Otsego Memorial Hospital Auxiliary and the American Red Cross. Cherwinski
was presented with a Shining Star for her determination to honor organ donors
and help promote this crucial topic.
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| Oliver Hale (Chef O); Grand Rapids |
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Award-winning professional chef, TV personality, community volunteer and kidney
transplant recipient, Chef O's passion is good food and healthy living. After a
heart attack and kidney failure nearly ended his life, Chef O devoted himself to
eating right and teaches others the same. His cooking demonstrations help teach
dialysis patients about better eating. A tireless volunteer, Chef O cooks at
local centers for homeless people in the Grand Rapids area. He also supports
several organizations, such as the National Kidney Foundation, and is active in
transplant sports - having won medals in tennis, track and field, and fencing. He
exemplifies what it means to be a Shining Star.
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| Alan B. Leichtman, M.D.; Ann Arbor |
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Dr. Alan Leichtman is a renal transplant surgeon and is an outstanding supporter
of organ and tissue donation. He is the medical director of renal
transplantation at the University of Michigan and a professor of internal
medicine. He has chaired a national committee to improve the system of
apportioning donor organs among transplant recipients. He has served on numerous
committees, including as chairman of the Kidney and Pancreas Transplantation
Committee of the Organ Procurement and Transplantation Network/United Network
for Organ Sharing. His lifetime career devotion to the field of organ
transplantation is a testament to his belief in the power of organ donation to
transform lives and has earned him a Shining Star.
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| Mary Catherine Sears; Saginaw |
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In need of a kidney transplant due to diabetes, Mary Catherine Sears was telling
her story to a couple she had just met at a church retreat in early 2000. To her
complete surprise, they agreed to be tested and the wife ended up donating one
of her kidneys. Since her transplant, Sears has been extremely active as a Gift
of Life volunteer, participating in more than 60 public presentations. She is a
volunteer leader, an active member of the Recipient Advisory Committee, leads
the Mid-Michigan Transplant Support Group, serves on the Donate Life Coalition
of Michigan and participates in the U.S. Transplant Olympic Games. For all of
her efforts, Sears was recognized with a Shining Star.
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| Lisa Ziff; West Bloomfield |
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Lisa Ziff appreciates the miracle of organ donation every time she looks in the
eyes of her healthy daughter, Shay. When Shay was five months old, she underwent
a heart transplant. This experience transformed Ziff into a tireless supporter
of organ donation. Ziff educates all she meets about the importance of organ
donation, has volunteered at countless events, fairs and walk-a-thons to
encourage people to sign up to be donors and has given many media interviews
about Shay's experience to help further publicize donation. She has helped
countless people understand the importance of organ donation and was awarded a
Shining Star for her efforts.
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Donor Family Advisory Committee - Gift of Life Michigan; Ann Arbor |
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Donor Family Advisory Committee - Gift of Life Michigan has been
instrumental in establishing a number of innovative programs and services,
including a peer network to help bereaved families and a thank-you card program
allowing newly transplanted recipients to express their gratitude to their
donor's family. Each member of the committee has a unique donor story to share,
and together they have helped educate countless people about the importance of
donation. The Shining Star award acknowledges the committee's remarkable works.
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| Cindy Giannini; Sterling Heights |
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Cindy Giannini made the selfless decision to donate her son's organs at the time of his death in 2002. Shortly thereafter, Giannini shared her
son's story at her church, staffed tables to distribute organ donor information and arranged for a Giving Tree display at William Beaumont Hospital in Royal Oak. For these and her continuing efforts to promote organ and tissue donation, Giannini
was awarded a Shining Star.
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| Mark Gravel; Ann Arbor |
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Mark Gravel's dedication to organ and tissue donation has placed the University
of Michigan Health System in the limelight as one of three hospitals nationally
with exceptional organ donation achievements. As the director of donation
initiatives for the University of Michigan Transplant Center, Gravel has been
instrumental in changing hospital policy to allow families to donate their loved
ones' organs at the point of cardiac death once all measures to save the
patient's life were exhausted. As a result, several dozen donations at U-M
hospitals have been made possible that otherwise would not have been considered.
Gravel's success has sparked similar initiatives at Henry Ford Hospital in
Detroit, Spectrum Health in Grand Rapids and others around the state and earned
him a Shining Star award.
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| James Hoogeboom, D.O.; Grand Rapids |
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Dr. James Hoogeboom's commitment to promoting greater organ donor awareness has
consistently positioned Butterworth Hospital in Grand Rapids as one of the
largest donors of organs in Michigan for more than 15 years. His efforts have
also led to Spectrum Health System's recognition as the second-largest organ
donor in the nation. His work has brought greater awareness to the issue of
organ and tissue donation and earned him a Shining Star.
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| Max and Gloria Schindler; Gladwin |
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When Max and Gloria Schindler's 15-year-old daughter was tragically killed in an automobile accident, they generously donated her organs and tissues to help others in need. Since that
life-altering event, the Schindlers have given tremendous time and effort to
championing donation, including organizing rosebush planting ceremonies to
honor other donors. They were recognized with a Shining Star for their selfless
example, which helps others better understand the benefits of organ donation.
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| Bill Schwerin; Mt. Morris |
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Bill Schwerin understands the importance of organ and tissue donation because he is a lifelong diabetic and a kidney and pancreas transplant recipient. Schwerin was recognized with a Shining Star for his efforts to educate children about the importance of organ and tissue donation through the use of
"Stuffee," a 7-foot tall, plush character based at the Flint Children's Museum. Stuffee is designed to showcase the internal organs and their functions in a manner that is medically accurate and nonthreatening
to small children.
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| S.O.D.A. (Spreading Organ Donor Awareness); Flint |
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Advocates for greater organ donor awareness in the Flint area, under the leadership of kidney recipient state Rep. John Gleason, established S.O.D.A. in 2004. Through the efforts of S.O.D.A., community and religious leaders, pharmaceutical companies, hospital employees, transplant physicians, recipients and donor families have all joined together to spread the word about organ donation. It continues to expand its outreach by participating with the Flint
Pan-Hellenic Council, Michigan Shriners, community health fairs and local unions.
S.O.D.A's tremendous efforts certainly earned it a Shining Star.
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| Marie Sweeney, IHM; Detroit |
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In the fall of 2001, Sister Sweeney received a lung transplant. Nine months
later, she was volunteering her time and energy to help others waiting for a
lifesaving transplant. In 2004, Sister Sweeney convinced the Michigan Catholic
newspaper to support National Donor Sabbath Weekend and had information presented to every
Catholic church in the Archdiocese of Detroit and the Diocese of Grand Rapids.
Her example has shown many the benefits of organ and tissue donation and
garnered her a Shining Star.
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