Children's Organ Transplant Association Reports Record Number of Children Successfully Transplanted
“COTA’s unwavering commitment to giving hope and making miracles for each transplant family is underscored by the organization’s nearly 150,000 volunteers and contributors who, during the past 24 years, have generously donated their time and their money to COTA,” said Rick Lofgren, COTA President and CEO. “These volunteers and contributors are indeed heroes; they are our Miracle Makers.”
An important benchmark for any non-profit organization is the percent of expenditures used for program-related activities. In the past year, COTA reported that nearly 85% of COTA’s operational expenses were directed toward patient care and organ, tissue and marrow donor education program activities.
“Giving Hope … Making Miracles is more than a slogan for the Children’s Organ Transplant Association -- it is a guiding vision,” said Scott Price, COTA’s Chairman of the Board. “On behalf of COTA’s Board of Directors, it is my pleasure to report that more than $3.5 million was raised to help meet transplant-related expenses of COTA patients during fiscal year 2010. COTA’s Board of Directors is committed to ensuring that every dollar donated for our patients is used for transplant-related expenses.”
Over the past 24 years, COTA has become the premier organization providing fundraising assistance to families facing a life-saving transplant by assisting nearly 1,600 patients. Families from throughout the country, representing every ethnic, economic, religious and social background, have worked with COTA. Their volunteers and supporters have donated nearly $58 million to assist with transplant-related expenses.
When COTA was founded in 1986, most donations were made through cash or checks. In fiscal year 2010, COTA’s website (www.cota.org) became the organization’s fastest growing method of raising funds with more than $800,000 contributed in online donations to help children and families.
Since its founding in 1986, two of COTA’s hallmarks are that patients are not charged for services and every dollar contributed in honor, or in memory, of COTA patients is used for transplant-related expenses.
“In addition to the excellent programs and services COTA provide free of charge, we augment the funds our volunteers raise by providing a challenge grant of up to $10,000 for each campaign,” said Price. “This COTA program has distributed more than $3,000,000 to COTA fundraising campaigns since 2000.”
“COTA was founded nearly 25 years ago when one child from Bloomington, Indiana, needed a liver transplant to survive. The local community rallied around this child’s family and raised more than $100,000 in two months’ time. Sadly, that little boy died before a liver became available, but their efforts were not in vain. In the coming weeks we will be celebrating another milestone when we announce the name of our 1,600th patient,” said Lofgren.
The Children’s Organ Transplant Association is a national charity that provides fundraising assistance and family support for children needing life-saving transplants. COTA’s priority is to assure that no child or young adult is denied a transplant or excluded from a transplant waiting list due to lack of funds. 100 percent of all funds raised in honor of patients are used for transplant-related expenses. For more information about COTA, visit www.cota.org or call 800.366.2682.