LiveOnNY Foundation
Our Mission
The Foundation’s core mission is to raise and deploy charitable contributions to help increase the number of lives saved in New York through public awareness and medical education about the life saving and life enhancing benefits of organ and tissue donation and transplantation. LiveOnNY Foundation funds a variety of innovative initiatives, supporting both transplant patients and donor families through their journey. By making a contribution to The LiveOnNY Foundation, you help us provide the greatest gift of all – the gift of life.
Foundation Leadership
foundation leadership
William Dacunto
Dr. Sander Florman
Robert Anello, Esq.
Peter Hutchings
Leonard Achan, RN, MA, ANP
Gene Boniberger
Andy Brattain
Lee H. Perlman
Dr. Lloyd Ratner
Dr. Anthony Watkins
Heidi Evans
Donate Eight
Donate Eight is a non-profit organization founded by members of the New York City Real Estate, Building Management and Building Service community in response to the immediate need to increase organ donation awareness and enrollment in the New York State Donate Life Registry. Learn more about Donate Eight here.
Donate Eight Annual Gala
Donate Eight hosts an annual Spring Cocktail Reception to raise awareness for the lifesaving power of organ donations in our communities. The event will be back in person at Gotham Hall in New York City on Wednesday, June 14, 2023. Proceeds raised will benefit LiveOnNY Foundation. Save the date! Tickets and sponsorship level packages available for purchase soon!
About Our Grants
Since the LiveOnNY Foundation was created in 2016, the Foundation has awarded over $1.5 million in grants. They range from Amanda's Gift of Life Family Transport, Grief Counseling for Donor Families, a scholarship fund for high school students, and supporting families through Harboring Hearts. The Foundation also helped fund a public service campaign to alert New Yorkers to the new easy way to sign up to become an organ donor online. Watch the video from the campaign titled "It's so easy even a kid can do it" by clicking here.
We continue to review and support grants from the donation and transplantation community. For additional information or questions, contact: Heidi Evans, Executive Director of the LiveOnNY Foundation at hevans@liveonnyfoundation.org.
Harboring Hearts
Through it’s “Ya Gotta Have Heart” grant to the non-profit Harboring Hearts, LiveOnNY Foundation has supported more than 500 heart and liver transplant families and patients like little Izabella since 2017 (pictured with her mother). Harboring Hearts provides emergency housing, transportation and food to low income patients and their families across our eight partner transplant centers. Izabella is a heart transplant recipient and her family had one less worry going through the process by having access to a grant from Harboring Hearts. Today, Izabella is thriving and she and her family help share the message about the importance of signing up as an organ donor.
Kinsey's Kidney Adventure
The LiveOnNY Foundation published a children's book about a brave 5-year-old girl from Queens who received a kidney from a generous stranger. An inspiring and life-affirming story as told through the eyes of a child. Kinsey is now a teenager and honor student.
Kinsey is pictured here with her mother, Nadine Morsi, who authored the book. They regularly host book readings together in schools and hospitals and advocate for organ donation. Copies of "Kinsey's Kidney Adventure" can be purchased thru Amazon.com or Mascot Books.com.
Gift of Life Family Transport
The LiveOnNY Foundation has supported Gift of Life Family Transport. The organization focuses on providing transportation services to organ donor families who are going through the sudden loss of a loved one. The Gift of Life Family Transport was started when the Forsyth family lost their daughter Amanda in a car accident. They were provided 24 hour transportation services, a gesture that made all the difference for a family suffering the devastating loss of a child. This service allowed for Amanda’s family to be with her as much a possible during her hospitalization, relieving them the stressful task of driving during their grief. The Forsyth family believes this service should be available to all families going through similar ordeals and as a result, created this charity organization to continue this service.
Pictured here is William Dacunto, Chair of the LiveOnNY Foundation, presenting a check to Diane Forsyth.
Marcy's Gift - Video Scholarship Award
Marcy's Gift is a $2,500 scholarship in support of New York high school seniors who produces a compelling video to educate the community about the value and importance of organ donation and transplantation. Marcy’s Gift is named for Marcy Salmirs, the extraordinary New York woman who with her team of volunteers single-handedly created the most successful philanthropic health care fundraising event in New York City. Part of the team of Donate Eight – the major funder for the LiveOnNY Foundation – Salmirs has spearheaded its annual fundraiser at Gotham Hall since 2013. Her extraordinary generosity, talent and heart have helped Donate Eight raise millions of dollars to increase awareness about organ donation and help recipient and donor families during a critical time in their lives. The inaugural Marcy’s Gift awards were presented in June, 2019, to Louisa Tantillo of Mammaroneck High School and her classmate, Penny Lee, who received a liver transplant when she was three years old. Click here to watch the winning film. If you are interested in applying for this scholarship, please email hevans@liveonnyfoundation.org.
Contributions
Checks can be made out to: LiveOnNY Foundation
And mailed to: LiveOnNY Foundation
Attn: Jim Aranda, Chief Financial Officer
30-30 47th Avenue, 9th Floor, Long Island City, NY 11101
For more information about LiveOnNY Foundation, contact Heidi Evans, Executive Director at hevans@liveonnyfoundation. org. or call 646-291-4428.