G.A.V.E.

GAVE is an organization dedicated to promoting organ & tissue donation from the millions of healthy willing prisoners, gay men and other groups that are unnecessarily banned from donating today.

GAVE was founded by an Oregon death row inmate who hoped to make a living donation of a healthy kidney to a friend in need, followed by a whole body donation upon his execution. Being denied for reasons that were no longer relevant, he started GAVE to raise awareness for the needless ban and the lives lost because of it. (See the New York Times Article)

Prisoners, gay men, hemophiliacs, and others are automatically denied the option of organ, tissue, and blood donation due to the possibility they may carry and transmit an infectious disease. Thanks to advances in detection of infection, however, millions amongst these groups can donate safely. But they are still banned.

More than half of all Americans are prohibited from donating due to pre-existing conditions ranging from infections to obesity. As a result, someone dies every hour because a matching organ or bone marrow donor cannot be found. There is now an overwhelming need to increase the pool of healthy donors.

GAVE is fighting to force the transplant community to take another look at the pointless ban on prisoners, gay men and other groups. Through education, advocacy, and public support, GAVE intends to influence change that will expand the pool of healthy donations for those who may not have the hope of survival otherwise.

Feel free to contact us:

[email protected]
[email protected]

Phone: 1-971-208-3879

Christian Longo (SID 14509855)
2605 State street
Salem, OR 97310-0505