
It isn’t every day that The Fray plays some songs and gives some personal messages in the middle of a fundraiser.
But then again, it’s not every day that someone decides to donate a kidney to someone they don’t even know.
To that end, about 600 well-heeled guests joined their friend Steve Farber, founder of the American Transplant Foundation, at the Ritz-Carlton Denver Saturday night to celebrate 10 years of success and look to the future to pave the way for more donations, both physical and financial.
The American Transplant Foundation is the only nonprofit in the country that provides financial assistance to the most vulnerable transplant patients and living donors for lost wages and lifesaving medications. American Transplant Foundation reduces the waiting list by maximizing living organ donation, which is the most effective way to fulfill their mission.
The foundation was started by Farber, who was faced with a life-threatening crossroads in 2004 and ultimately received a kidney from his son Gregg. Farber was on hand to receive the Governor’s designation from Lt Governor Donna Lynne proclaiming the day “American Transplant Foundation Day” and welcome this year’s ATF heroes:
- Transplant Angel Award: Lanie Alford–UTSW, Transplant Coordinator, Dallas, TX and Katie Peoples–St Francis Hospital, Transplant Social Worker, Tulsa, OK;
- Volunteer of the Decade: Vienna Danna, Age 11, who received her award from Joe King and Isaac Slade of the Fray;
- How to Save a Life Award: Jose Amezola Beltran, Superior, CO, Eldonna Edwards, San Luis Obispo, CA and David Rochlin, Denver CO;
Also on hand were Miguel Ramirez, who saved his wife’s life by donating his kidney, and his daughter Maria, who eloquently and tearfully told their story to the audience.
ATF has had some major accomplishments, including these milestones:
- There are 47 states in which American Transplant Foundation supports living donors, transplant patients, and their families.
- $207.3 million in economic impact has been achieved, thanks to the Foundation’s work since the Patient Assistance Program was founded in 2011. With each patient helped, Medicare saves $462,671 over the course of 10 years.
- 480 people were taken off the waiting list as a result of the Foundation’s work through the Patient Assistance Program and 1+1=LIFE Mentorship Program since 2011. That is 480 lives saved.
For more information, log on to www.americantransplantfoundation.org.
- Gary Mobell, left, Dr. Dean Prina, Catherine Goodwillie, Jarrod Tisdell and Brad Farber
- Carol and Larry Mizel, CEO of presenting sponsor MDC Richmond American Foundation
- Cindy and Steve Farber, founder of ATF
- Jan and Ted Harms
- Honorees Lanie Alford, left, Eldonna Edwards and Katie Peoples
- Arthur and Lanie Alford, left, Eldonna Edwards, Katie and Vince Peoples
- Larry Mizel, left, and Marty Schmitz
- Le Ann and Joe Colacioppo
- Malvina Messler and MIke Wallen
- Bradley Joseph and Ellen Robinson
- Jeff and Amy Springer, left, and Craig Andrisen
- Kevin and Elizabeth Quinn, left, with Steve Farber
- Ramona Powell and Mason Holland
- Event Co-Chair Pat Hamill, left, and Ferd Belz
- Megan Verhoeff, left, Carol Zakavec, Jenna Zakavec and Mandy Bock
- Paul Danna Jr., honoree Vienna Danna and Milana Danna (it was her birtthday!)
- Honoree Vienna Danna, left, Beverly Fine, Milana Danna, Traci Danna, Paul Danna Jr., Paul Danna Sr., Cindy Schanowski
- Lisa and Tom Corley
- Kelley Duke, left, with Jody Epstein and Donald Yale
- Andrea and Brent Powers, left, with Ricki Rest
- Walt Isenberg, left, Dr. John Grossman, Christie Isenberg and Kristin Johnson
- Norm and Lisa Franke
- Gary Levine, left, Ed Levine, Connie Levine, Harriet Levine and Pam Grossman
- Laura Florence and Jay Small
- Ryan Johnson, left, ATF Executive Director Anastasia Darwish, Joy and Guy Shalev and Suzanne Johnson
- Karlynn Keys and Peter Wells
- Justin Cooper, left, Taber and Cara Sweet, Kelley Duke and Jennifer Crick
- Cynthia and Dr. Larry Chan, one of the founders of ATF
- Walt DeHaven, left, with Pat and Mike Scherer
- Jon and Stephanie Hendrickson, left, Rebecca Griggs, Kristi and Curt Daniels
- David Feiner, left, Whitney Chotin Wolz, Chad Wolz, Lisa Walko
- Cory and Greer Ryan, left, with Brooks Andrisen
- Pam Peros, left, Tasso Belegratis, Jim Peros
- Meg Dubray,, left, David and Krisann McReynolds
- Shane Hendryson, left, Deidre Hunter, Dana Davis and Shawn Hunter
- Ellen Robinson, left, with Charlie and Suzanne Brown
- James Mucker and Diana Senova
- Jeannie and Bill Ritter
- Honoree David Rochlin with his daugther Elle Powell and wife Ramona Powell
- Steve and Robin Chotin, left, Andy Levy, Carol and Rick Abrams
- Brent and Julie Morse, left, with Steve Demby
- Joe King of The Fray with his wife Candice and Steve and Cindy Farber
- Walt DeHaven and Wendy Aiello
- Lynne Greene and Neil Ross
- Lou and Lori Sigman
- Doug Friednash, left, Christie Isenberg and Rick Sapkin
- Suzanne Johnson, chair of the after-party, and her husband Ryan
- Joy Shalev, left, Andrew Feinstein, Guy Shalev
- Sisters Cindy Farber, left, and Debbie Lustig
- Group shot of the volunteers
- Steve Farber, left, with Sally and Dan Scherer
- Rick Sapkin, left, Blair Richardson, Shelly Sapkin, Dan Ritchie and Cindy Farber
- Julie and Brent Farber
- Event Co-Chairs Brad and Karly Farber
- The Hero awards
- Barry and Arlene Hirschfeld
- Oz Pearlman served as emcee
- Oz Pearlman was a finalist on “America’s Got Talent.”
- Co-Chairs Brad Farber, left, and Pat Hamill
- Sheila and Rick Bugdanowitz
- Bo Brownstein was part of Oz Pearlman’s fundraising exercise
- Bo Brownstein, left, Brad Farber, Pat Hamill and Oz Pearlman on stage during one of Oz’s fundraising “tricks”
- Lt Governor Donna Lynne brings the Governor’s proclamation making June 11 “American Transplant Foundation Day” in Denver
- Executive Director Anastasia Darwish gets ready to introduce honorees
- Anastasia Darwish, left, with Transplant Angel honorees Lanie Alford and Katie Peooples
- Brad Farber, Oz Pearlman and Pat Hamill on stage as Michael Pollak describes the watch that his Hyde Park donated for the auction package
- Joe King and Isaac Slade of The Fray performed for the crowd
- Joe King and Isaac Slade played The Fray’s hits
- Joe King and Isaac Slade demonstrate why their band The Fray is so popular
- Joe King and Isaac Slade of The Fray present the Volunteer of the Decade award to 11-year-old Vienna Danna
- Joe King and Isaac Slade with honoree Vienna Danna
- Maria Ramirez and her dad Miguel tell their story of how MIguel saved his wife’s life by donating a kidney.
- Maria Ramirez and her dad Miguel
- Rebecca Griggs of DaVita makes an announcment of a donation
- Larry Mizel gets ready to introduce honorees
- How To Save A Life Award recipients Eldonna Edwards, David Rochlin and Jose Amezola Beltran
- Larry MIzel with honorees
- Larry Mizel, left, Eldonna Edwards, David Rochlin and Jose Amezola Beltran