Contact: Aaron Kelchner, Marketing Communications and Data Coordinator
Email: akelchner [at] donatelife [dot] net
Phone: 804.887.9434
BALTIMORE, MD – October 30, 2014
In recognition of Ma’ake Kemoeatu’s outstanding support of organ, eye and tissue donation, Donate Life America and Donate Life Maryland presented the former Baltimore Ravens defensive lineman with a Donate Life Champion award. This award is being given to select members of the athletic community from across the country who have inspired others to give the gifts of life, sight and mobility. Other national Donate Life Champions include Michael Jordan, Boomer Esiason, Robin Roberts, Erik Compton, Ikey Woods and Ravens President Dick Cass.
Ma’ake was nominated by Donate Life Maryland and unanimously selected by the National Committee after learning of his living kidney donation to his brother, Chris, formerly with the Pittsburgh Steelers. Since his living kidney donation, Ma’ake and Chris, have appeared on various television programs promoting the importance of organ, eye and tissue donation and sharing their living donation story.
With gratitude for this prestigious award, Ma’ake invites fans, community members and friends to register as a donor in his name at www.DonateLife.net and share their support using #FanForLife in their social media efforts.
“With the growing need for lifesaving transplants exceeding the number of organs available, we truly honor and support deceased and living donors -like Ma’ake – who have made this remarkable decision to help save lives,” said Libby Wolfe, Executive Director for Donate Life Maryland.
Currently, more than 120 million people have already been inspired to register as organ, eye and tissue donors. Each fan who joins the their state registry as an organ, eye and tissue donor in Ma’ake’s honor is known as a “FanForLife.”
“This weekend, the Ravens play the Steelers and we encourage football fans to show their support for our lifesaving cause by tagging their social media with #FanForLifeRavens or #FanForLifeSteelers,” added Libby Wolfe, “No matter who you are cheering for in this weekend’s game, let’s show that football fans are “FansForLife!”
