The Starfish Effect: Brodie’s Good Vibe Tribe Changing Lives
By Charlie Pistone, BEAT reporter
A woman walking along a shoreline notices a man tossing starfish back into the ocean. When she asks why, he explains he is trying to save them. She gestures to the beach, covered in hundreds of starfish, and questions how much of a difference he could possibly make. In response, he throws one more starfish into the water and says, “I just changed that one starfish’s life.” Traci Tigue, founder of Brodie’s Good Vibe Tribe (BGVT), uses this story as a powerful metaphor for her mission—proving that even helping one family at a time can change lives.
Founded in 2016 as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, BGVT exists to aid families experiencing medical challenges, specifically transplant families who are often overlooked. The organization assists families by providing a range of support, such as paying rent or utility bills they’ve fallen behind on due to medical expenses, furnishing homes, and simply helping ease the financial pressure they feel because of a health crisis. Beyond financial assistance, BGVT provides emotional support to families by providing cards, gift cards, encouragement, and moments of joy. “At the end of the day, BGVT is about kindness in action,” Tigue emphasized.
The creation of BGVT was not a sudden inspiration—it started the day Tigue’s son was born. At only five months old, Tigue’s son, Brodie, needed a liver transplant. She became his living donor. Going through this process showed her family the reality of the transplant journey and how overwhelming it can be, especially with little to no support after the transplant. This inspired Tigue to start an organization that spreads awareness of organ donation and provides support to others going through the journey of it.
As the organization has grown, they have faced multiple challenges, such as the lack of support for transplant families outside of the hospital. Tigue explained, “While the medical care is incredible, families are often left navigating the financial, emotional, and logistical challenges on their own. Seeing that gap — especially among families we met through transplant centers — made it impossible not to keep going.”
Now, BGVT has become a successful community-driven organization that is connected to families all over, from Cleveland Clinic to Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center and even to UPMC Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh. Moving into the future, Tigue hopes to reduce the transplant waitlist, which currently includes over 100,000 people, down to a few. While she knows this can’t happen suddenly, by continuing BGVT, she is helping one family at a time, getting to that goal.
To support BGVT, individuals can make a financial donation through bgvt.org. There are also many fundraisers and events, such as a Cavaliers game on April 8; ticket information will be released soon. Volunteers are always encouraged as well. You can become one by emailing tracitigue@bgvt.org to learn more about it. Additionally, you can always learn more about organ donation and share that information with those around you.
“Organ donation saves lives, and showing up for families matter,” expressed Tigue. “If you don’t know where to start — start by being an organ donor and finding one small way to. Be the Good.”
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.