Network for Hope

06/19/2026

To the men who show up for others, mark your calendars to show up for yourselves. 💚

As Father’s Day approaches, we’re thinking about the fathers, sons, husbands, grandfathers, and advocates connected to this mission. The men who lead with compassion and remind us that support matters, too.

Our Men’s Breakfast creates space for connection among donor families, transplant recipients, living donors, those waiting, and all those connected to the donation community.

Last year, one attendee shared, “The food fed my body, but the fellowship fed my soul.”

Join us for a morning of connection, inspiration and transformation.

Network for Hope’s Louisville Office
10301 Linn Station Rd, Louisville, KY 40223
RSVP Deadline: July 13th

06/18/2026

Members of our Family Aftercare team, Gretchen Starnes and Christina Paxton, are in Denver this morning for the start of the Transplant Games of America. They are supporting our lovely Donate Life Ambassadors representing Team Kentucky in the Games.

The Transplant Games of America is an opportunity to honor the gift of organ, tissue, and eye donation by celebrating the second chances given to transplant recipients. Recipients are joined by living donors, donor families, patients waiting for transplant, caregivers, and professionals from the world of donation and transplantation. While celebrating life, the six-day event also raises awareness about the need for more organ, tissue, and eye donors to save lives.

Follow along the next six days for more behind-the-scenes content from the Transplant Games!

06/17/2026

Congratulations to the hard-working students of the Student Organ Donation Advocates (SODA) Chapter at the Warren County Career Center (WCCC) - Atrium Campus for being recognized by SODA National for being the Chapter with the "Most People Registered" in the 2025-2026 school year.

Through their peer-to-peer efforts, these students added 423 people to the donor registry. Each registration means more lives potentially saved and healed through the Gift of Life.

We're so proud of you, WCCC SODA!

06/17/2026

Hey Pikeville, we’ll see y'all soon! 💚 Save the date for Live Healthy & Move, a free community health and wellness fair!

Join us on Saturday, July 11, at Appalachian Wireless Arena for free health screenings, sports physicals, family activities, community resources, and donation education. Plus, free Kona Ice!

Questions? Contact Lauren Salyer at [email protected].

06/16/2026

Inspiration comes in many forms. Sometimes it looks like friendship.

Stephanie Bates and Sister Keli found each other through their shared transplant journeys and commitment to supporting others.

Full episode is LIVE.
🎧 Listen: https://bit.ly/3Gf4FMF
📺 Watch: https://bit.ly/44eznxM

06/15/2026

“I cannot thank my donor enough. I would absolutely love to find out who they are and be able to meet them one day.

They definitely saved my life in many ways and changed my whole outlook on life.”

— Jaylynn Parker, cornea recipient

06/15/2026

This week is . There are over 67,000 men on the national transplant waiting list and over 87% of those are waiting for a kidney.

Your decision can make a difference. Your voice can make a difference. Learn more about organ, tissue, and eye donation at: Networkforhope.org

06/14/2026

Nick Cordrey’s bucket list continues to inspire his family as they work together to fulfill his dreams—visiting all 50 states, earning an honorary diploma, and now attending a World Cup game in his honor.

Through organ and tissue donation, Nick accomplished perhaps the most meaningful goal of all, leaving behind a legacy of hope that continues to impact lives every day.

Full story:

Six years after losing their son, Nick Cordrey, his family is working to make sure the dreams he wrote down as a teenager are still realized.

06/14/2026

World Blood Donor Day is a reminder that access to donation should be rooted in inclusion.

In 2023, the Food and Drug Administration updated its blood donor screening guidelines, moving away from policies based on sexual orientation and instead focusing on individual health history and risk assessment for every donor equally.

That means many LGBTQIA+ individuals who were previously unable to donate may now be eligible under the same standards as everyone else.

Organizations like Hoxworth Blood Center, Kentucky Blood Center, and the American Red Cross Blood Donors have adopted these updated guidelines, helping create a more inclusive donation process while continuing to protect the blood supply.

One blood donation can help save multiple lives, and expanding access to blood donation helps strengthen the supply for patients who depend on it every day, including transplant recipients.

Learn more:
🔗 hoxworth.org/donors/lgbtq.html
🔗 kybloodcenter.org
🔗 redcross.org/give-blood

06/12/2026

For years, Sister Keli had accepted what she thought was her reality.

Then a conversation with her doctor changed everything.

Sister Keli and Stephanie Bates join This Thing Called Life to share their stories of perseverance, friendship,  faith and the power of hope.

🎧 Tune in for the full story. Episode drops Tuesday.