Lifebanc Bringing Life-Saving Awareness to Brunswick High School
By Charlie Pistone, BEAT reporter
BRUNSWICK, OH- Most high school students don’t think much about organ donation until they are standing at the Bureau of Motor Vehicles (BMV), being asked about a question they may not feel prepared to answer. This year, Brunswick High School is making sure its students won’t be caught off guard. BHS welcomed a new partnership with organ donation organization Lifebanc, where students are learning about what organ, tissue, and eye donation is.
Lifebanc, founded in 1986 as one of the country’s first seven organ procurement organizations, focuses its daily work on a large range of things. Ashley Badders, Manager of Education at Lifebanc, explained that the organization does everything from teaching the community about the importance of organ donation to assisting in hospitals when they have donors. As for Badders herself, her role includes overseeing the education team, training new staff, and developing outreach programs like the one now taking place at the Brunswick High School.
Badders emphasized that Lifebanc’s work extends beyond the medical side of donation. The organization supports families with bereavement services, builds community through events like the annual Gift of Life Walk and Run, and maintains strong partnerships with hospitals throughout Northeast Ohio. Additionally, their team ensures that both donors and their families receive compassionate care at every step of their organ donation journey.
The partnership with Brunswick High School began with Traci Tigue, who understands donation on a personal level as she is a Brunswick parent and donor mom. She donated part of her liver to her son, Brody, when he was an infant, an experience that inspired her to spread awareness about organ, eye, and tissue donation. Badders stated, “She reached out to Lifebanc as a partner in this project, and we were so excited to work with her and use her energy and dedication.” The goal of the presentation was to make sure the students understood donation enough to make an informed decision when the time comes to decide if they want to become a registered organ donor.
Badders expressed many thanks to everyone who helped bring the presentation to life, including Tigue, The Good Vibe Guides from Hickory Ridge Elementary, and especially Brunswick City Schools. The combined efforts from everyone give students the knowledge they need to make a meaningful choice in their lives. Moving forward, Lifebanc can be supported by simply learning more about organ, tissue, and eye donation and talking openly about it with everyone, as spreading awareness alone can have a significant impact. Badders stated, “The more we can spread understanding, the better it is for the entire community.”
Charlie Pistone, Brunswick Middle School, is one of over fifty student “backpack journalists” (grades 6-12) in the award-winning BEAT Video Program. The program, celebrating its 25th year, is sponsored by Donut Land, Plum Creek Assisted Living Community, MODA Gifting, Scripps Howard Foundation and the Brunswick Rotary Club. Go to https://www.bcsoh.org/community/new-beat-site to learn more about the Program, or visit https://thebeat.viebit.com/?folder=ALL to view videos produced by the students.
PHOTOS: Charlie Pistone interviews Ashley Badders (left) on NewsBEAT set; photos of Brody, Traci and the Tigue family.