A generous and brave #Utah woman is only one of about 150 Americans to have gifted, not one, but two organs for donation!

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I am writing this letter of support for the National Kidney Foundation of Utah and Idaho. I have worked with
this program as a renal social worker for over 17 years. They have consistently been the best, quickest
and most compassionate entity, that I have worked with to help my dialysis patients. They have many
services that help patients from the mundane to the life changing.
The National Kidney Foundation of Utah and Idaho have helped my patients in many ways with their
emergency grants. Dialysis can be very disruptive to a person’s life. It can be difficult to maintain
employment while on dialysis, due to fatigue, illness and lack of available time due to dialysis
treatments. Many of the patients I have worked with have been financial devastated. They live with
razor thin margins and any disruption to their finances can send them spiraling towards a financial
disaster.
This is where the National Kidney Foundation of Utah and Idaho is so vital. They make it so that patients
can weather many of the financial worries that come from being on dialysis. Recently, they have helped
to prevent evictions, fix cars, and to help patients keep utility services going. Many of my patient’s
quality of life would be diminished without the programs of the National Kidney Foundation of Utah and
Idaho and several would have their financial and medical health imperiled without their programs.
Another program that is phenomenal that they do every year is their Family Kidney Camps. I have
several patients, that this program is the one thing that they really look forward to every year. It gives
people a chance to feel normal and have fun with other people in similar circumstances. I have had
many patients go, who were struggling with isolation and depression, that came back from it with a
happy glow and a resolve to work to get a transplant or embrace dialysis and to feel better. It is not
uncommon to hear a patient refer to something they learned or describe an insight that changed their
emotional outlook regarding their lives and how they live with End Stage Renal disease. It is something
patients’ whole families will look forward to. For many of them this is one of the few moments that they
can relax, laugh and recharge. It is especially important for younger dialysis patients, who get a chance
to meet others sharing the same burdens and to share their hopes, fears, and laughter.
I offer my strongest endorsement for these and the many other programs of the National Kidney
Foundation of Utah and Idaho. They truly improve the quality of life for so many of my patients.
Sincerely,

Matt Groen LCSW

Utah finally has two worthy LOCAL charities taking charity car donations

For 32 years, The National Kidney Foundation of Utah & Idaho has been the only charity in Utah who accepts vehicle donations for the sole purpose of directly benefitting Utahans. Recently, I was so happy to see that the Utah Food Bank has begun a pretty robust car donation program.  It’s wonderful Utah has another local non-profit dedicated to vital human services, that can further benefit local Utahans in need.  While towKars.org / Kidney Kars of Utah was Utah’s original (even one of the country’s first) and still number one choice in car donation these past 32 years; we are grateful that there for another Utah charity partner accepting vehicle donations to benefit those who suffer food instability while in Utah.  Since 1990 the National Kidney Foundation of Utah & Idaho has accepted charity car donations.  Unfortunately over those many years, hundreds of other copy-cat or sound-alike charities started their own car donation programs and began advertising on the internet.  Some of them have even used the trademarked/copyrighted name “Kidney Cars” in their Google AdWords to confuse donors into thinking they are donating to towKars.org (Kidney Kars).  It’s unfortunate, because making a mistake like that, won’t benefit anyone in Utah at all. Most of those other “charity” car donation programs have no office, staff, presence or services in Utah.  To make matters worse, many of those using sponsored or Google AdWords advertising are managed not by the charity itself, but by businesses and call centers who take a hefty cut (between $200-250 per car).  But you can be assured you’re donation will used locally when donating using towKars.org

 Too frequently people confuse Kars4Kids with Kidney Kars (towkars.org)

While every legitimate charity car donation program likely provides meanwhile and valuable services–Kidney Kars is meant to benefit Utahans only.  Kidney Cars purpose is transparent: to provide emergency medical funding to Utahans with kidney failure, to prevent kidney failure in Utah and promote kidney donation in Utah. Kidney failure is the single most expensive ongoing, life-saving medical therapy in America.  Insurance companies and the government combined spend BILLIONS of dollars a year on the 200,000 people experiencing kidney disease. Dialysis and kidney transplant is expensive.   Any kind of medical crises in America is expensive.  But unfortunately kidney disease has no cure.  Zero.  The only way to sidestep dying of kidney failure, is to qualify for a kidney transplant.  But even then, not everyone is ‘healthy’ enough to qualify for the transplant waiting list.  Kidney Kars donations help pay not only for health and human services for those in deepest medical crises (housing, utilities, specialized medical nutrition, transportation), Kidney Kars donations also help pay for dental work. Most don’t realize that one cavity, or untreated gum disease will keep you off the transplant waiting list.  As a matter of fact, I’m of the opinion that anyone who successfully navigates the transplant waiting list, finds a donor and receives a successful kidney transplant surgery should receive an honorary MPA (Masters of Public Administration).  It is no easy thing to find your way through that process, while you’re sick on dialysis.  So the emergency funding provided by the generous Utahans who donate their car to Kidney Kars is literally providing”Life Blood” to those served by the National Kidney Foundation of Utah & Idaho.

towKars.org / Kidney Kars has been Utah’s original and most legitimate charity car donation since 1990

So if you are of the mind to keep your charity car donation local, please keep towKars.org in mind (and tell a friend!).

Thank you for reading!

Thank you to all the donors who made my scholarship possible.  I am so grateful you saw my potential and for giving me this chance.  I appreciate all the work you do in asking for donations, so someone like me can make something of themselves in spite of kidney failure.  I appreciate all the back and forth that went on to pay for my tuition and some for housing.  I appreciate the patience you had for this process.  It is always a fear of mine; not having had enough money (because of medical expenses) to spare for school and technical training.  My medical bills are unreal, which as a young person, is hard.  It really lifted a weight off my shoulders having one less expense (tuition/housing).  It might not have even been possible without the scholarship.  I have been stressed out starting school soon, but I am so grateful to you.  Your support will help me enjoy my classes just a little bit more!  Thanks again for all you do, and to all the people who donate their car to Kidney Kars who make it possible!  I can now continue to work to pay for bills AND receive higher education/training so one day I can work a legit job.  Sending my best to all of you, for your kindness to me!

-B Jorgensen