Philadelphia, PA – More than 15,000 supporters from across the region and beyond gathered on Sunday, April 26 for the 29th Gift of Life Donor Dash — one of the nation’s largest Donate Life Month events that highlights the urgent need for more registered organ donors. Held annually at the Philadelphia Navy Yard, the Dash unites donor families, transplant recipients, patients waiting and supporters to spread the word that donors are heroes, reaching millions through community and media partnerships.
“We’re grateful to the many families, volunteers and sponsors whose commitment makes the Donor Dash such a powerful expression of our life-saving mission,” said Richard D. Hasz, Jr., MFS, CPTC, President and CEO of Gift of Life Donor Program. “Too many people are still waiting for a life-saving transplant. The Donor Dash raises awareness of this urgent need and encourages more people to say ‘yes’ to donation. Everyone can help end the transplant waitlist by registering as an organ donor — and by coming together for our milestone 30th Anniversary Donor Dash in April 2027.”
The stories of the Donor Dash bring the power of organ donation to life — reflecting gratitude, hope and the urgent need for more registered donors:
Phillip Davis, an assistant school principal, has been on the kidney waitlist for several years, undergoing dialysis and persevering for himself, his family and his students until he receives his gift of life.
As team #BeLikeGarrett, West Chester University fraternity brothers and friends honored donor hero Garrett Nicholas, rallying to carry forward his spirit of kindness and generosity.
Heart recipient Kelly Bowers met her donor Sacha’s twin sister, Alyssa Taylor Courtney, celebrating their extraordinary connection.
The Liberty Pearls (Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc.) champion organ donation as a shared cause, representing a community touched by both donation and transplantation.
Team Shousky’s Sailors honored Navy Master of Arms Ron Shousky, whose legacy lives on through the six lives he saved as a donor hero.
Highlights of the 29th Donor Dash include:
- 15,000+ participants
- 350+ teams and 330+ volunteers
- More than $730,000 raised to support Gift of Life’s mission
- Participants joined virtually from 22 states and Washington, D.C.
- Team T-Shirt Contest Winner: Rickey’s Rebels, donor family team
- 5K and 10K runs, plus a 3K walk led by Positive Movement Entertainment Drumline and hip-hop artist, donor father and kidney transplant recipient Philadelphia Freeway
- Kids Fun Run and family-friendly activities throughout the day
- An expanded Community Village featuring more than 50 partner organizations including Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc.-Omega Mu Omega Chapter, AVE / Korman Communities, B.W.E.L.L and Skillz Group Inc, Eastern Atlantic States Regional Council of Carpenters, Help Hope Live, IgA Nephropathy Foundation, The Lupus Foundation of America Pennsylvania Delaware Valley, Marion Luckers Kidney Foundation, Moravia Health, National Kidney Foundation, New York Life, Office of Pennsylvania State Senator Sharif Street, School District of Philadelphia, Solidarity Project Inc., Theta Chapter-Chi Eta Phi Sorority Inc., The Black Brain Campaign, The Mobile CPR Project, Ubora International Inc., University of Pennsylvania Department of Dermatology, Wings For Life
- Entertainment by DJ Doc B, Hi-Stone Social and the Philadelphia School of Rock
- Thank you to Wegmans, Rita’s Water Ice and Red Bull for providing free refreshments
Funds raised through the Dash support programs for donor families and transplant recipients, along with critical public education efforts to inspire more people to register as organ donors. These efforts are essential to advancing Gift of Life’s mission to provide a second chance at life for all those waiting. Anyone who was unable to attend the Dash can still support the mission by visiting donordash.org.
The Donor Dash was founded in 1996 by volunteer Claire Braverman after her husband, Mickey, died waiting for a liver transplant. Claire died in 2025, leaving a lasting legacy carried forward by the thousands who help save lives with every step at the Dash.
The Donor Dash was founded in 1996 by volunteer Claire Braverman after her husband, Mickey, died waiting for a liver transplant. Claire died in 2025, leaving a lasting legacy carried forward by the thousands who help save lives with every step at the Dash.
Today, more than 100,000 people nationwide are waiting for a life-saving organ transplant —and 13 die each day waiting.
The following generous sponsors made Gift of Life’s 29th Annual Donor Dash possible:
- Platinum Sponsor:
- MTF Biologics
- Diamond Sponsors:
- Solvita
- AltruVision
- Quick Courier Service, Inc
- Temple University Health System
- Venture Jets, Inc
- Organ Recovery Systems
- Silver Sponsors:
- Global Transplant Solutions, Inc.
- Eurofins Donor & Product Testing
- Keystone Perfusion
- Bronze Sponsors:
- Penn Transplant Institute
- Gallagher Benefit Services
- Transplant Alliance Foundation
- Jefferson Health
- Sovereign Insurance Group
- Specialist Direct
- St. Christopher’s Hospital for Children
- MJ Settelen Construction, LLC
- Cordicate IT
- Penn State Hershey
- Parking:
- PIDC, Ensemble, Carpenters’ Union
- Supporters:
- Nemours Children’s Health
- Gillespie Electric, Inc.
- Cornerstone Institutional Investors, Inc.
- UPMC Pinnacle
- Artivion, Inc.
- Cohen, Placitella & Roth, P.C.
- Cozen O’Connor
- Venable
- Virtua Health
- Riggs Distler
- NORA
- AmeriHealth Caritas
- Roxborough Memorial Hospital
- AtlantiCare
- ChristianaCare Kidney Transplant Program
- Bridge to Life
- PA Health & Wellness
- Lehigh Valley Health Network
- Wegmans
About Gift of Life Donor Program
Gift of Life Donor Program, founded in 1974 and headquartered in Philadelphia, is the federally designated organ procurement organization (OPO) for the eastern half of Pennsylvania, southern New Jersey and Delaware serving 11.3 million people. It works with 123 acute care hospitals and 12 transplant centers in its region, as well as hundreds of transplant centers throughout the country, to provide the most comprehensive array of services available in the U.S. to the donation and transplantation community. Thanks to the generosity of its community, Gift of Life has coordinated 15,586 donors and 43,108 organs for transplants, the most of any OPO in the country since the start of our national donation system in 1988. In addition, Gift of Life has coordinated more than two million tissue transplants. One organ donor can save the lives of up to eight people and a tissue donor can improve the lives of 100 others. Learn more and sign up at donors1.org.