December 2013

Greetings from the Colby Foundation!

We are thrilled to share with you the many ways that your support has helped to put our mission into action.  Organ, eye, and tissue donation will touch even more lives because of the work that you are making possible for the Colby Foundation.

Before we share 2013 news, it is important to us as founders and trustees to thank you from the bottom of our hearts for your part in this endeavor.  Whether it is the generosity of your financial contributions; or the conversations you have to inform others about organ and tissue donation; or the messages of encouragement you share with us; or the commitment you have made to be organ, eye, and tissue donors; we are profoundly moved and grateful.

With your help, 2013 saw the Colby Cassani Endowed Lectureship Series (CCELS) taking place for the fourteenth year at the first medical school we endowed to fund education about organ, eye, and tissue donation--Oklahoma State University Center for Health Sciences.  Our longtime and new contributors alike have made this happen!  It also saw the CCELS taking place for the first time at the medical school we most recently endowed—University of Nevada School of Medicine.  With sincere thanks to our contributors, the Colby Foundation has been able to ensure that donation and transplantation modules hold a permanent place in the curriculum at eight schools of medicine across the United States and we aim to increase this number:

To date, more than twenty five graduating classes, totaling more than 5000 physicians have had the full spectrum learning experience of a CCELS--from Colby’s organ donation story; to the growing need for organ, eye, and tissue donors; to the medical needs of a transplant recipient, to the unique role physicians can play in educating their own patients about the decision to be a donor.  These lectureship attendees have even championed additional efforts to raise awareness by organizing public fun runs in their communities.  And, we have our contributors to thank! 

Our efforts to raise awareness also continue to include speaking engagements at community organizations and public events.  In 2013 we committed ourselves to serving on the board of a wonderful organization with a similar mission.  We look forward to raising awareness in new ways with New Mexico Donor Services.

The Colby Foundation’s web presence was also refreshed to maximize online engagement and learning.  A web redesign matching grant we were awarded in 2012 has been fully implemented.  The resulting redesigned website brings more interactive elements to site visitors and better supports our mission to educate nationally.

We know that decisions about where to direct your charitable contributions are made thoughtfully.  If you believe as we do, that saving or improving lives through organ, eye, and tissue donation is worthy of your continued support; won’t you please consider contributing online toward our mission?  You are also most welcome to send a check by postal mail payable to:
Colby Foundation
PO Box 19334
Reno, NV 89511

And, please accept our continued gratitude! 

Thank you,

John and Starla Cassani
Founders and Trustees
Colby Foundation