Perrysburg Nonprofits and Charities

www.perrysburgmusicaltheatre.com<br>I Give Because I Want to Put the &ldquo;A&rdquo; Back in STEM.<br><br>There is a focus on STEM (science, technology, engineering and math), and rightfully so, but I believe we are missing the &ldquo;A&rdquo; for the arts in our schools. This is why I believe in giving to community theatre.<br>The theatre allows for self-expression, self-knowledge, creativity and empowerment and Perrysburg Musical Theatre does just that for their community. Perrysburg Musical Theatre (PMT) has given me the opportunity to contribute to the art community, grow creatively with others and the best gift of all: sharing my love of the arts with my son who has blossomed because of PMT. As a Board Member of PMT, carrying out our mission to entertain, educate, and empower artists and audiences is something I stand by and truly believe in.<br>I am proud to be a part of a great organization that gives youth, teens and adults an opportunity to flourish in the arts and produce meaningful productions for our community. <br>Thank you for letting me share my Giving Story and raise awareness for &ldquo;A&rdquo;!<br>

In 2007, my step-dad was told that he would need a kidney transplant. Many of us were tested as donors but either we were the wrong blood type or had health issues ourselves. In 2008, the transplant hospital told our family about the Alliance for Paired Donation. Kidney paired donation matches one incompatible donor/recipient pair to another pair in the same situation, so that the donor of the first pair gives to the recipient of the second, and vice versa. In other words, the two pairs swap kidneys . So even though I was not the same blood type as my step-dad, through the Alliance for Paired Donation, I might still be able to donate a kidney for him. This gave our family much needed hope. We signed up for the program through the transplant hospital. All the testing I needed to do to determine if I was a viable donor was done through my primary care physician. About 9 months later, we received the long awaited call that there was a match. On August 23, 2009, I flew to Augusta, GA to donate my kidney to a man I had never met. At the same time, his wife flew to Denver, Co to donate her kidney to my step-dad. The surgeries occurred at the exact same time. What a miracle! My kidney has been going strong in it's new home now for 3 years giving a family a new life. Soon after the transplant, I started volunteering for the Alliance for Paired Donation helping others in our situation by directing them to the transplant hospitals that participate in the program. I also was able to share my story and give them first hand experience as to what to expect. Through paired donation, APD is able to shorten the wait for a kidney transplant and offer many families hope.

It was a blessing and pleasure to have worked with ISOH/IMPACT when they would bring international patients for treatment to the pediatric cardiology office in which I worked. The children [and family members, on occasion] were always very happy to be getting the help they needed as a result of the efforts of Linda and Stan, and the ISOH/IMPACT organization. <br> <br>I mention the international patients due to having witnessed the great lengths ISOH/IMPACT goes to when bringing patients to the USA -- from the "small stuff" - such as providing healthy meals and fresh, clean clothing - to providing interpreters and tutors for school-age children. <br> <br>When I had the opportunity to visit with ISOH/IMPACT at its "campus," I was pleased [though not surprised, considering the professionalism with which ISOH/IMPACT operates] to see the great rapport between teachers and students/hosts and patients. The patients participate in daily activities and, clearly, live with love, and peace. <br> <br>Outside of the healthcare realm, ISOH/IMPACT collects and distributes food and supplies for those in need; shipping both nationally and internationally. <br> <br>ISOH/IMPACT is a superior organization and is worthy of any and all assistance [whether physical or monetary] one -- or many -- can provide.