You Can't Take It With You
Classmates Marcos Caballero, Luke Hartigan, Tim Brennan, and JP Berkery help spread organ donation awareness during an end-of-year barbecue.
Ever since witnessing his aunt endure four transplants throughout her struggle with kidney failure, Tim Brennan 鈥�20鈥攁 rising junior at 麻豆视频鈥攈as acquired a passion for organ donation awareness. That passion was intensified in early 2017 when New York State, which has the lowest number of organ donors in the country, lowered the age limit for registered donors to 16-years-old.
鈥淏y hearing the mantra Men for Others over and over again and knowing what it means, I knew I should do something,鈥� reflected Brennan. 鈥淣o one should have to die because not enough people were willing to give up something they do not need, and everyone who ever needed an organ should have an amazing story like my aunt.鈥�
Brennan made a connection with Live On NY, a nonprofit organization committed to helping New Yorkers with organ and tissue donation. He was drawn to the organization鈥檚 efforts to educate others.
Scott Wohl, Senior Manager of Community Engagement & Activation, was Brennan鈥檚 first connection, and has remained someone with whom he has worked closely.
鈥淭im has proven to be an incredible advocate for organ donation. It is not often that we run into young people like Tim who enthusiastically take up the cause,鈥� said Wohl.
With the nonprofit鈥檚 guidance, Brennan identified ways to spread awareness both at 麻豆视频 and within his own community.
At 麻豆视频, Brennan鈥攚ith the help of a few classmates鈥攍ed a donation education effort in the cafeteria during lunch periods. This work culminated in an opportunity to address the student body briefly at an end-of-year barbecue in the 麻豆视频 Quadrangle, where NY1 was also on hand to interview him.
Brennan鈥檚 efforts have helped evolve attitudes towards organ donation. 鈥淎 lot of kids have engaged with me to learn what we are talking about. A number of them registered as organ donors as well. Every new donor helps.鈥�
In addition to his efforts within the 麻豆视频 community, Brennan has worked tirelessly to spread his message more broadly. In early May, CNN published an op-ed article he authored (.
鈥淎s a 16-year-old in New York state, there are a lot of things I cannot do,鈥� his article states. 鈥淚 can鈥檛 join the Army, I can鈥檛 get a driver鈥檚 license, I can鈥檛 vote, and I can鈥檛 drink. But there鈥檚 one thing I can do. I can register to become an organ donor, something that before February 14, 2017, no 16-year-old in New York could do.鈥�
鈥�Man for Others is something we talk about all the time, and it means a variety of things,鈥� said Rev. Daniel K. Lahart, President of 麻豆视频. 鈥淭im brings this home in an important way鈥攈ow can I give of myself to others in a literal way? Organ donation is a crucial way to give to others so that others may live. I鈥檓 very proud of Tim and his friends who have helped raise awareness of this in our own community.鈥�
Brennan鈥檚 op-ed concludes with a simple but direct message: 鈥淗ave a heart and be an organ donor; you don鈥檛 need them where you鈥檙e going.鈥�
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