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The annual Gift of Life Volunteer Recognition Ceremony, a day where we recognize the compassion, dedication, and hard work our volunteers bring to the Gift of Life community, took place on June 9th.
The Howie’s House had the opportunity to present four awards—the Home Cook Heroes Award, the Heartman Award, the Fundraising Ambassador Award, and the Guest Services Award. We are so incredibly proud and humbled by all of our volunteers and couldn’t have been happier to honor them in this special way.
We presented our Home Cook Heroes Award to New Vision Pioneers, who, led by Jody, have been volunteering with us since the spring of 2015. Since then, they have come in 36 times to date and have served nearly 2,000 meals to families who came a long way to receive treatment in Philadelphia.
The Heartman Award was given to Janice Schwartz Donahue. Janice has been volunteering with Gift of Life for over 20 years, first getting involved with her daughter, Jessica, who was a heart transplant recipient. Sadly, Jessica passed away, but Janice continues to carry on her legacy by coordinating Jessie’s Day with her other daughter, Laura, every year to give the gift of education to organ transplant recipients who are looking to attend college.
Janice is also a weekly volunteer at the Howie’s House. Every Wednesday, you’ll find her in the kitchen warmly welcoming and supporting the Home Cook Heroes volunteer groups, giving tours, setting up and cleaning up, or doing whatever is needed to make sure the kitchen operations are running smoothly.
She has become part of the Howie’s House “family” and we just love having her with us each week. To date, Janice has contributed over 900 hours of her time to supporting the Howie’s House!
This year, the 2018 Fundraising Ambassador Award, which recognizes a volunteer, group, or organization that has demonstrated exceptional leadership in coordinating, motivating, and successfully completing fundraising efforts for Gift of Life Howie’s House, was given to the Penkala Family.
In an effort to honor his son Paulie and raise awareness about organ and tissue donation, Paul Penkala, along with family and friends, hosts an annual golf tournament and graciously donates all of the money raised to Gift of Life Howie’s House.
In 2011, the family pledged $25,000 to underwrite the Howie’s House resident laundry room in their son’s name, because, as Paul put it, “Paulie was always particular about ironing his clothing.”
Even though they fulfilled this pledge a few years ago, the Penkalas continue to host their outing to support our Adopt-A-Family Program.
The Penkalas also volunteer in the House as Home Cook Heroes, preparing and serving home-cooked meals to our guests, and in the community by participating in speaking engagements, sharing their donation story, and spreading awareness for organ and tissue donation.
The Penkala family has accomplished so much and we are so grateful for all you’ve done for the Howie’s House, our transplant families, and the transplant community.
Lastly, our Guest Service Award was given to Ginneh Earle. Ginneh began volunteering at the Howie’s House in 2014 and has generously contributed over 400 hours of her time since joining our team.
Anyone who has been at the Howie’s House on a night where Ginneh is helping knows that they are instantly in good hands, as she makes sure that our Home Cook Heroes groups have everything they need, and always doing so with a welcoming smile. She often will stay at the Howie’s House until after 9pm, making sure several times that there is really nothing else she can do to help!
In addition to being a friendly presence at the Howie’s House on a weekly basis, Ginneh also has volunteered at the Dash and President’s Reception.
Ginneh does not have a direct connection to transplantation, but says that she just wants to help, and we can’t thank her enough for that. Her leadership, kindness, and commitment to support and comfort transplant patients, families, caregivers, and fellow volunteers is truly admirable.
Our volunteers play such an important role at the Howie’s House and we are so grateful for their help—thank you so much!
One June morning, Joseph Mansaray woke up and found it difficult to breathe. His father, Peter, took him to the hospital where a chest x-ray revealed he had an enlarged heart. His doctor explained to him that the small, local hospital would not be able to help and had Joseph and his father transferred in an ambulance to another where he was admitted and spent 12 days in the ICU.
After several more tests, doctors there also felt there was nothing they could do to help Joseph. He and his father were transferred again, this time by helicopter, to a world renowned hospital in Philadelphia. Here, doctors were able to diagnose Joseph with cardiomyopathy, a disease of the heart muscle which makes it difficult for the organ to pump blood, and told him that he may need a transplant. Joseph’s mother, Mary, was also recently diagnosed with cardiomyopathy and was just beginning her transplant journey.
Doctors gave Joseph a left ventricular assist device, or an L-VAD, to help pump blood throughout his body, hoping it would strengthen his heart enough to later be removed. After surgery, Joseph was discharged to the Howie’s House where he and his father stayed during his recovery. His mother remained at home with his other siblings. A few weeks later, after three months in three different hospitals, Joseph and his father were able to join them. Life, however, wasn’t the same—Joseph couldn’t go to school, run, or play soccer.
That fall, Joseph returned to Philadelphia for a follow-up appointment where doctors found the L-VAD had not worked like they had hoped. Joseph’s heart was not healing and the next course of treatment was a heart transplant. Around this time, Mary had received her precious gift of life, but unfortunately, suffered major complications. She passed away in November 2015.
“Watching my mom’s transplant and what happened to her after was so hard for me. I was so sad that my mom had passed and also so scared that this was going to happen to me,” Joseph says.
Thankfully, his dad was there to support him.
“[Joseph] never complained. And as a dad and a caregiver, watching my son go through what he went through and handle it with such grace. It helped me. It really helped me,” Peter says.
In February 2016, Joseph received “the call” and was gifted a new heart thanks to a charitable act by a selfless donor. His recovery went smoothly, and 10 days after his surgery, he was discharged to the Howie’s House with his father once more.
“The House made life easier for me and my family during this time and I am very grateful for that,” Joseph says.
After a few more weeks, Joseph was able to return home. He was able to play soccer during his senior year of high school. Now he also plays in college.
“I thank everyone at the Howie’s House for all the good work they do every day and all that they have done for my family,” Joseph says. “They helped us through some of the hardest times in our lives, giving us somewhere to sleep, connecting us to other transplant families and donor families, and helping us when life was falling apart.”
“When the helicopter landed at the hospital in Philadelphia, I was alone with my son,” Peter explains. “I was afraid, worried, confused…but by the time we left [the Howie’s House], I left with a whole family.”
Peter is just one of the many strong husbands and fathers who stay at the Howie’s House. This Father’s Day, you can give them one less thing to worry about so they can focus on supporting their families and each other through such difficult times. Please consider making a gift to help support the fathers and sons like Peter and Joseph undergoing the transplant journey, or in honor of an important male figure in your life.
Click here to give!
Do you remember when we asked you to write an encouraging note to our transplant families as a part of our Welcome Them Home campaign?
Last fall, we set out to collect 1,000 encouraging messages from caring people like you to transplant patients and their families.
We had these notes sewn together into a beautiful welcome banner that is now hanging in our dining room to welcome our transplant families home after long, hard days at the hospital.
It is our hope that these words of encouragement, wisdom, and strength will bring hope to our guests during a difficult journey and that support from our community will bring them joy and peace.
Some of the notes read:
“Welcome to warm hospitality, a comfy bed, warm meals, and a listening ear.” –Lorraine
“You are strong and courageous.” –Anonymous
“Stay strong. The people who work here and the other families will be your greatest support.” –Anita
“This is your home to find comfort in and share with those who understand.” –Rob
“There is hope and love, much of it found right here. Ne strong, never give up!” –Tibor
“Difficult roads often lead to beautiful destinations here at the Howie’s House. Welcome.” –Ed
“You’re patient and loving.” –Anonymous
“Hang in there. Things will get better. Never lose hope.” –Mary Ellen
Thanks to you, we can remind our transplant families of the support they have. No one’s transplant journey will be exactly the same, but finding ways to support one another is a crucial part of helping our families feel comfortable, safe, and supported.
Thank you for being part of such an inspiring project!
Since 1996, Gift of Life Donor Program has hosted the Donor Dash to promote organ and tissue donation and to raise funds to educate the community about the critical need for more people to register as organ and tissue donors.
All proceeds received through fundraising for the Donor Dash benefit Transplant Foundation, the charitable foundation supporting the mission of Gift of Life Donor Program. All funds raised at the Donor Dash go to support programs and activities designed to increase organ and tissue donor awareness, including sponsorship of Team Philadelphia’s participation in the Transplant Games of America, programs and activities in support of donor and recipient families, including the Gift of Life Howie’s House.
Register Now
The Dash celebrates the life-saving power of donation and honors all of the donors who make it possible. By supporting Gift of Life and the Donor Dash, you will help raise awareness about the critical need to increase the number of those registered as organ and tissue donors. We are looking to partners like you to help make a difference in the lives of those affected by organ and tissue donation. There are more than 5,400 people men, women, and children waiting in our region for a second chance at life through an organ transplant. You can help us make a difference!
Event Details
- Date: April 14
- Location: Philadelphia Museum of Art
- 10K run begins 7:10am
- 5K run begins 7:20am
- Kids Fun Run begins 7:45am
- 3K walk begins 8:30am
Registration:
Now through noon on April 9, 2019:
- 3K Walker: $30
- 3K Walker Upgrade: $55*
- 5K Runner: $35
- 5K Runner Upgrade: $60*
- 10K Runner: $40
- 10K Runner Upgrade: $65*
*Upgrade by March 14 to receive a Dash tech tee and running hat. Gift of Life will mail your tech tee and running hat before the Dash!
Comcast Cares Day is a worldwide initiative that brings together thousands of Comcast employees, their families, friends and networks from around the world to volunteer and make change happen in local communities.
Over a two day span, volunteers from Comcast’s Tax Accounting team worked hard to make a difference at the Howie’s House by assisting with special projects like painting, repairs, planting flowers and gardening, cleaning, and cooking meals for the families in residence! Volunteers even utilized their artistic skills by painting a beautiful butterfly mural in the lower level of the Howie’s House.
We are thankful to the Comcast volunteers for their time, passion and dedication to the Gift of Life Howie’s House mission!
Is your company looking to partner with a nonprofit organization?
Through volunteerism, sponsorships, grants and program support, hundreds of corporations like Comcast have partnered with Gift of Life Howie’s House to support transplant patients and their families. In return, corporations receive unique recognition and brand visibility through our various communications and social media platforms as well as opportunities for employee team building activities and ways to engage and reconnect with clients.
Gift of Life Howie’s House invites you to join this growing group of corporate partners – who help provide a “home away from home” to transplant families. If your business or corporation is interested in supporting programs, events or other initiatives at Gift of Life Howie’s House, we would be happy to help build an impactful partnership.
For more information contact Sara Cohen, Development Manager at scohen@giftoflifefamilyhouse.org or call 267-546-9812.
You might recognize Arthur Thomas, a heart transplant recipient who walked his donor’s daughter down the aisle at her wedding last August. That sweet moment became a viral video sensation. It has been viewed by millions and has made a lasting impression on people around the world. But Arthur’s story and impact hits closer to home in a small community in Lawrenceville, New Jersey, where a group of students came together to support the Gift of Life Howie’s House and raise awareness about the importance of organ and tissue donation.
Twenty-six years ago, Arthur “Tom” Thomas was diagnosed with ventricular tachycardia, a condition that causes the lower heart chambers to beat too quickly. During most of that time, Arthur was able to live comfortably without any serious problems. But in 2006, his condition worsened and he was in congestive heart failure. He finally received the news shortly after that a match had been found and he’d be receiving his precious gift of life with only hours to spare.
In 2007, just one year after receiving his life-saving transplant, Arthur decided he wanted to give back. He set out to educate students about the transplant process at The Lawrenceville School in New Jersey where he used to be a college advisor to students. His wife, Nancy, currently serves as a Dean of the school. Arthur’s story inspired students to take the initiative to help spread awareness, and support those whose stories are similar to his. As a result, students created the Lives Saving Lives Club and asked Arthur to mentor as a faculty advisor. The Lives Saving Lives Club is completely student-operated and hosts a number of fundraisers and benefits, which all raise money for Gift of Life Howie’s House. Students have turned what started as a small club into a community-wide effort to raise awareness and funds – and their success has been truly remarkable! The club’s devotion to the Howie’s House began back in 2009 when the initial campaign to start the House began – and has since raised over $30,000! Their outstanding support and dedication to our mission helps provide our guests with comfortable lodging, hot meals, a fully stocked pantry, a free shuttle service and so much more. Such support helps alleviate stress transplant patients and families face day-to-day – mentally, physically and emotionally.
When the students of the Lives Saving Lives Club learned that construction for the Howie’s House was breaking ground in 2011, they began to focus on both donation awareness and supporting transplant patients and families who come to Philadelphia for transplant-related care. The club hosts an annual Organ Donor Awareness Benefit Dinner where students, parents, family members and guests can enjoy a four-course meal and live string quartet. Proceeds raised from the event went toward programs at the Howie’s House – such as the Adopt-A-Family Program. This program, thanks to generous supporters like the Lives Saving Lives Club, allows the Howie’s House to keep nightly fees low, and ensures that no family will be turned away because they can’t afford to pay. In addition to their benefit, the club frequently visits the Howie’s House to prepare and serve meals for transplant families through the Home Cook Hero Program. Arthur knows that visiting with transplant families and patients lets his students see the impact they have on their community.
“The students are seeing folks who are going through this. It’s very real to them, and that’s special.”
The members of the Lives Saving Lives Club are truly making a difference in the community, and have helped many who are going through a similar journey that Arthur went through ten years ago. This experience is not only beneficial for the Howie’s House and transplant families, but also an incredible eye-opener for members in the club. “With this club, I wanted to give the students a different perspective, and to show them just how precious life is,” said Arthur.
Groups and clubs, like the Lives Saving Lives Club, are one of the reasons the Howie’s House is able to offer a “home away from home” to thousands of transplant patients and their families. Arthur and his students are an example of how one small step can lead to helping the greater good.
November is officially National Family Caregivers Month and this year’s theme is respite, a temporary relief from something stressful and difficult. The Caregiver Action Network outlines:
“Respite” – the chance to take a breather, the opportunity to re-energize – and it is as important as any other item on the caregiver’s to-do list. People think of respite as a luxury, but considering caregivers’ increased risk for health issues from chronic stress, those risks are a lot costlier than some time away to recharge.
In honor of National Family Caregivers Month, the Howie’s House has been posting wellness tips and support resources for caregivers, as well as recognizing transplant caregivers and their efforts. Many of the guests staying at Gift of Life Howie’s House are caregivers to their loved one waiting for, undergoing, or recovering from an organ transplant. The Howie’s House provides resources and support to caregivers throughout the Gift of Life Region through its Caregiver Lifeline Program. Whether it be self-care tips, keeping patient to caregiver relationships healthy, or numerous other resources, the Caregiver Lifeline Program provides services specifically tailored to the needs of organ transplant patients, family members and caregivers inside and outside the walls of the Howie’s House.
Recognizing the importance of caregivers and their influence in the transplant community, the Howie’s House continues to advocate for and support them by all means necessary. The National Alliance for Caregivers created a program called Caregiving Champions; it highlights important government officials who have been steadfast advocates for caregivers nationwide throughout their career. Pennsylvania’s local Caregiving Champion is Senator Bob Casey.
Senator Casey has been a dedicated supporter for aging Americans and their families throughout his entire career in public service. The Senator has a personal connection to transplant and genuine understanding of caregiving through his father, former Governor Robert P. Casey of Pennsylvania (left). Robert P. Casey Sr. was diagnosed with hereditary amyloidosis, a condition that required an extremely rare heart-liver transplant in 1993. Because of this personal connection to organ transplant and experience as a caregiver, the senator has strongly backed organ donation in his region. Additionally, he introduced legislation that would create a national Caregiver Corps plan to aid families who provide care to aging or disabled relatives. In honor of this month and this important cause, Senator Casey shared a few words with us:
“I would like to thank my friends at Gift of Life for using the month of November to highlight this important issue. Caregivers of all ages face unique challenges in providing support for their loved ones during times of illness
and disability. Gift of Life provides valuable resources and support to caregivers through its Caregiver Lifeline Program, supporting the families who are caring for loved ones awaiting or recovering a life-saving transplant. The least we can do is provide these caregivers a safe haven where they can share their experiences with other people undergoing similar experiences. We also have the opportunity in Congress to pass legislation to help family caregivers properly care for their loved ones, including the Caregiver Corps Act, which would provide community services opportunities for volunteers to provide respite care for family caregivers. I will continue to push for bipartisan legislation that improves the quality of life for families and their care recipients, and ensure that they receive the assistance and respite they truly need.”
For more information about Casey, his caregiving efforts, or to find your local Caregiving Champion, please visit: http://www.caregiving.org/find-your-champion/pennsylvania/
Being a transplant caregiver can be difficult physically and emotionally. It is common to fear the unknown and become anxious about the “wait list” because it is a completely new journey. Lorna, wife and caregiver to her husband who needed a lung transplant, explains, “For now, it is very, very, difficult — working full time and taking care of a lung transplant recipient is by no means an easy task. There are days I sit at my desk and tears just run down my face. I pray for the day when we can go for long walks and take trips and just appreciate each other even more.”
Feeling alone, emotionally overwhelmed, or any other range of emotions is completely normal. It is important to remember that you are not alone. Over 6,000 individuals are currently listed on our regional waiting list for a life-saving organ donation. Each year, thousands of patients – both children and adults – and their families and caregivers, travel for treatment at one of the fifteen Gift of Life Donor Program’s transplant centers. And while there has been tremendous growth and increase success in transplantation, for many transplant patients and their family members, even the good news of a life-saving organ brings anxieties.
Often support from others who are also going through the transplant journey or have gone through it in the past, can be exactly the type of support a caregiver may need. Caregivers should look to identify support networks within their life to help them cope throughout the entire transplant process and hopefully find respite and emotional support. If you are having trouble locating the support you need and deserve, please look to our Caregiver Resource Handbook as well as this article written by the Howie’s House Social Worker, Talia Giordano on how to find support networks.
“Respite is the key to a caregiver’s own well-being. Respite protects one’s health, strengthens family relationships, prevents burn-out and allows a loved one to stay at home up to three times longer. No wonder respite is one of the most frequently requested support services for family caregivers.
~ Caregiver Action Network
Sundance Vacations is happy to announce the launch of its new charity site Sundance Vacations Charities: sundancevacationscharities.org
Co-owners John and Tina Dowd are strong advocates for supporting those in need, especially when it comes to saving lives. The Gift of Life Howie’s House is one of the many organizations the Dowds believe deserves recognition. The Sundance Vacations Charities site features companies that both the Dowds and employees think are worthy causes for assistance.
The site brings all the charities Sundance Vacations donates to into one, central place where viewers have access to information about each charity’s individual location(s), news and information, as well as a direct link to their page to donate. It also features a different charity each month to help raise awareness of diverse causes.
The Dowds were recently named “Outstanding Philanthropists” by the Association for Fundraising Professionals (AFB) in conjunction with National Philanthropy Day. For more information on this award, please see “Dowds Named Outstanding Philanthropists.”
Some local charities lack the exposure to branch out online for help and it is Sundance Vacation’s goal to shed some light on these organizations. Later down the road, the site hopes to handle donation requests and scholarship inquiries.
“We encourage not just the people around us, but everyone to get involved,” said Tina Dowd. “No matter what way you devote part of yourself to a charity, it will be sure to repay you ten-fold when you take a look back at your life.”
Happy New Year, dear friends! As you think about New Year’s resolutions, and what 2015 might bring, we are thinking about our New Year’s milestone – 20,000 room nights!
Because of your generosity and commitment to supporting our “home away from home” over the past 3 ½ years, this January we have reached a new important milestone, providing 20,000 room nights to transplant patients and their families!
Since opening our doors in 2011, over 900 transplant families have stayed at the Howie’s House – some of whom had to travel thousands of miles, staying at the Howie’s House for months at a time, while their loved ones were hospitalized here in Philadelphia. Not only that, but your generosity and support has made it possible for us to serve these families more than 80,000 meals, so that they could always come ‘home’ after a long day in the hospital and sit down to a nice, hot meal. We are so grateful we can count on your support.
And our guests are grateful they can count on you too!
We’re not the only ones who want to extend our gratitude. Guests at the Howie’s House also want to share their message of thanks:
“The transplant process is a long process of testing, waiting, and lots of appointments. In our case home is just too far away to be feasible. We really appreciate that this “home away from home” exists. We really do appreciate all of your generosity! Thank you so much from the bottom of our hearts!” – Steve & Tina
“After long trying days it’s a great comfort to come here and be welcomed by others and a staff of caring friendly people. Only through your support and continued support can all this be made possible day after day. Blessings to each of you. Jeanette, a guest in waiting for a gift of new life.”
“Words cannot fully express our gratitude for your help. We came here after our precious baby received a heart transplant. We were tired, stressed, and out of money. Your blessings gave us the opportunity to stay at a wonderfully clean, hotel style house. Thank you for your wonderful gift.” -Guest of the Howie’s House
We extend our heartfelt wishes to you and yours for a New Year filled with peace, joy and good health.
Happy New Year!
Gift of Life Howie’s House serves as a “home away from home” for transplant patients and their families who travel to Philadelphia for transplant-related care. Amenities include a communal living room, kitchen and dining room, on-site parking, laundry facilities, and transportation to and from local hospitals. Guests are asked to pay a greatly reduced rate per night to stay at the Howie’s House, and no family is ever turned away due to their inability to pay.
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