MDFC Inspiration Award
This award honors an individual who has shown outstanding effort in promoting organ, tissue and eye donation. The individual is a member of the Donate Life community and inspires others to help save and heal lives.
Mike
2025 - We had the honor of presenting the 2025 MDFC Inspiration Award to Michael A. Love, a two-time double-lung recipient. Michael gives back to his community by volunteering with Henry Ford Hospital’s Transplant Living Community (TLC), Gift of Life Michigan, and MOTTEP. He speaks at events to dispel myths and explain the donation process, helping attract more donors.
Michael shares his gratitude for his second chance with everyone he meets, giving hope to those waiting on the transplant list.
Dr. Kelly Bryce and Jackie
2024 - We had the honor of presenting the 2024 MDFC Inspiration Award to two incredible individuals: Dr. Kelly Bryce and Jacqueline Roman, MSW, LMSW, for their exceptional work with the Transplant Living Community (TLC) Program at the Henry Ford Hospital Institute in Detroit. The TLC Program addresses the unique challenges transplant recipients and their families face. Jackie and Dr. Bryce provide vital support and education to organ and bone marrow recipients, guiding them through their journeys in the clinic and hospital.
Their commitment to improving the transplant experience for patients, living donors, and their families inspires hope and makes a significant difference in their lives.
Eversight’s Donation Support Center (DSC)
2023 - We had the honor of presenting the 2023 MDFC Inspiration Award to Eversight’s Donation Support Center (DSC).
Eversight is the nonprofit that serves the State of Michigan by providing cornea transplants.
The DSC manages next-of-kin calls to initiate the eye donation process when someone passes away. The department comprises 34 staff members and operates 24/7. Annually, they handle about 150,000 calls—roughly 411 per day—to facilitate eye donations for those in need. Their service area includes the entire State of Michigan, as well as NE Ohio, Illinois, and New Jersey. They consistently go above and beyond to support donor families during their most challenging times.
This is an incredible group of people who wake up every morning to help families through a difficult time in their lives when they’ve lost a loved one.
Jennifer
2022 - We had the distinct honor of awarding Jennifer Tislerics, The Digital Communications Specialist at Gift of Life Michigan, the MDFC Inspiration Award. Jen has volunteered to work with several national advisory councils and committees and received many awards, among many other things Jen does daily to save and enhance lives.
A quote from Jen regarding this honor:
"I am particularly honored to receive this Inspiration Award from the Michigan Donor Family Council because these are the people we serve - the heart and soul of the organ, eye, and tissue donation community. These are the people who inspire me every day."
Susan
2021 - We were honored to present Susan Walker, a Social Worker at Beaumont Hospital for 34 years, with the Michigan Donor Family Council Inspiration Award. Susan is a woman who has changed many lives. She is well known for her generosity and countless hours volunteering at many events to encourage people to consider donation. Susan has affected the lives of countless people and their world is a better place because she has made an effort for them. We are grateful she is part of our community.
Cathy
2020 - Several Michigan Donor Family Council members had the distinct honor of awarding Cathy Warren, Donate Life Coalition of Michigan Secretary, Gift of Life Michigan, MOTTEP, and Eversight volunteer, with the seventh annual MDFC Inspiration Award. Cathy is an incredible advocate in the donation community and has worked tirelessly for over a decade to promote donation. The MDFC is proud to recognize Cathy Warren for this year's Inspiration Award. Several Michigan Donor Family Council members had the distinct honor of awarding Cathy Warren, Donate Life Coalition of Michigan Secretary, Gift of Life Michigan, MOTEP, and Eversight volunteer, with the seventh annual MDFC Inspiration Award. Cathy is an incredible advocate in the donation community and has worked tirelessly for over a decade to promote donation. The MDFC is proud to recognize Cathy Warren for this year's Inspiration Award.
David
2019 - David Rozelle received his life-saving heart transplant in 2001 from a 17-year-old boy. David’s energy and strong desire to give back was immediate. He began volunteering with Gift of Life Michigan as an ambassador for organ, eye and tissue donation working to encourage others to join the Michigan Organ Donor Registry. David is the co-manager for Team Michigan and helps to coordinate Team Michigan to attend the Donate Life Transplant Games.
Tom
2018 - Tom Moran is the president of Art Moran GMC Buick Mitsubishi in Southeast Michigan. Tom has been a true champion of donation through his partnership with the Donate Life Coalition of Michigan. Tom has graciously hosted numerous donation awareness events at his car dealership, including the annual Comfort Blanket-Making event, where several hundred volunteers make blankets for donor families.
Chris
2017 - Chris Lionoga is a donor grandmother who lost her beloved grandson, Gerritt, who gave the gift of life. Chris has dedicated her time and energy to creating numerous donor memorial quilts for Gift of Life Michigan, for over 15 years. She delicately crafts each quilt with love and passion. The quilts can be seen here: https://www.giftoflifemichigan.org/donor-families/quilts
Rich
2016 - Richard Pietroski was the CEO of Gift of Life Michigan, for many years and during that time, he dedicated much time and energy to promoting organ, eye and tissue donation. During his leadership, he initiated the addition of a surgical center to Gift of Life, facilitating the process of organ and tissue donation. Rich is a bone recipient and is able to do the many activities thanks to a generous tissue donor.
Remonia
2015 - Remonia Chapman has worked at Gift of Life Michigan, for nearly 25 years as the Director of the Minority Organ Tissue Transplant Education Program. She is also the Community Outreach Manager and oversees public education of organ, tissue and eye donation with a focus on minority communities across Michigan. Her dedication to helping others is truly inspiring.
Ruth
2014 – Ruth Johnson served as Michigan’s Secretary of State from 2011 – 2019. During that time, she initiated several donation-friendly protocols, including encouraging Secretary of State clerks to ask customers to consider joining the Michigan Organ Donor Registry. In 2017, she helped pass a law to ensure that clerks would ask on all driver license transactions. Her passion for helping others and promoting donation is outstanding.
