A Successful Year Made Possible by our Volunteers
Judy at the first event.
Otero County Electric Coop
Health Fair, Tularosa, NM
In November of 2014, the Ultimate Gift of Life Foundation expanded to New Mexico. Judy Mancillas of Cloudcroft, NM was hired as Director. Judy’s husband, Joe waited on the transplant waiting list for 4 years. He died in an accident while waiting. Judy’s knows the urgency of getting more people registered to be an organ donor and wants to help make a difference in the lives of people on the transplant waiting list. She also wants families talking about organ donation. To most, it makes sense to be an organ donor, but if faced with the question for the first time in an emergency situation, the decision can be a difficult one.
In order to be more effective, The Ultimate Gift of Life Foundation utilizes the help of volunteers. In the first year, we had 26 volunteers help at various events. In 2015, they attended 28 events, confirmed 1,059 donors and registered 346 new organ donors in the Southern New Mexico area. Areas reached included Mayhill, Cloudcroft, High Rolls, La Luz, Alamogordo, Tularosa, Ruidoso, Las Cruces and El Paso, TX. Events included marathons, health fairs, festivals and speaking engagements to various groups.
Volunteers help to man our booth at events. They are equipped with an iPad and ask people if they are an organ donor. If the reply is yes, they ask to confirm the registration. If the reply is no, they offer information about organ donation and if the person would like to register, they assist in the registration. Anyone who allows us to confirm or register them, receives a free Ultimate Gift of Life t-shirt.
Leah, Becky, Sally, Janet, Judy
Biggest Loser Race, Las Cruces, NM
Barbara, Sally, Ron, Richard, David and Joe at the Tularosa Basin Wine and Nut Festival, Alamogordo, NM
David, Ron Richard and Judy at the UTEP Miner Dash in El Paso, TX
Bob, Esther, Patty, hiding behind Esther, Charles, Judy, Richard, Audrey, and Joann at FAN Club
Our Volunteers find working with us to be very rewarding and fun!
Martha and Pat at The Joe Mancillas Trees of Hope Festival, Cloudcroft, NM
Pat, Richard and Esther at The Joe Mancillas Trees of Hope Festival
We have some special volunteers who share their stories at our speaking engagements about being donor mom’s, an organ recipient and a living donor.
Joann sharing her story with Alamogordo Chamber FAN Club
Audrey shares her story to the Otero County Association of Realtors.
Daniel donated a kidney to his wife, Sandy!
We are so grateful to our volunteers for helping us raise awareness about organ donation and increase the number of registered organ donors. Helping to: Turn a Time of Loss Into a Time of Hope!
If you are interested in joining our volunteer team, Please contact Judy!
Way to go! We at COTA for Team Faith Mooney love our friends at Ultimate Gift! Hugs from Kerrville