Bloomington, Indiana — June 12, 2018 — The Children’s Organ Transplant Association (COTA) will host its 5th Annual Miracle Maker Celebration on Saturday, June 23rd at the Indiana State Museum in Indianapolis from 6:00 – 9:00 pm. This year’s event will recognize and honor the many contributions provided by more than 200,000 Miracle Makers (volunteers and supporters) nationwide.
COTA is a national charity dedicated to helping families of children and young adults who need life-saving transplants. Each year COTA works with thousands of Miracle Makers across the country to organize fundraising activities and organ/tissue donor awareness events. COTA Miracle Makers help remove the financial barriers facing transplant families.
“Thanks to three decades of support from our Miracle Makers, COTA is able to give transplant families hope for a brighter tomorrow, and help provide the miracle of transplantation to children and young adults in partnership with transplant centers throughout the nation,” said Rick Lofgren, COTA’s President. “The 2018 Miracle Maker Celebration recognizes our nationwide network of volunteers and contributors who give HOPE to transplant families.”
At this year’s event, COTA’s George Taliaferro Miracle Maker Award will be presented to David Hays. David is the founder and principal of Comprehensive Financial Consultants (CFC), which is a full-service financial advisory firm providing individuals, families and business owners the support they need to be able to retire on time and on their terms. David has worked in Central Indiana for more than 25 years, and with COTA for more than two decades.
According to Lofgren, “David believes in leaving a legacy and during his time working with us he has personally helped our families and has managed COTA’s investment portfolio starting in 1996 and growing to more than $32 million in 2018.”
“David and his wife, Misti, are the true representation of this year’s Miracle Maker Celebration theme of Celebrating Indiana,” Lofgren said.
Major sponsors for COTA’s 2018 Miracle Maker Celebration include Comprehensive Financial Consultants, Hern Family Limited Partnership, Scott and Nikki Ganton, Novartis Pharmaceuticals, Cook, Inc., Tim and Cheri DeBruicker, Stephen and Sandi Lehrman, Rick and Lisa Lofgren, James and Haley Gilroy, John Simmons & Morris Group, Inc., Katz Sapper & Miller LLP, Walgreens Specialty Pharmacy and Jackson Sky.
Danny Bessette, a double lung transplant recipient, will share his transplant journey to date and the role COTA has played in it. Danny and his wife, Jackie, called began working with COTA in 2010, and Danny will be addressing the issue of COTA’s lifetime of support from the podium. His presentation will illustrate why COTA is the Trusted Leader Supporting Transplant Families.
COTA is the largest organization dedicated to helping families of children and young adults with transplant-related expenses, and providing fundraising assistance to community volunteers across the country. COTA is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization so funds allocated are not considered income for families. Since 1986, more than $110 million has been raised across the country for thousands of children and young adults needing an organ, bone marrow or stem cell transplant.
For COTA Miracle Maker Celebration registration information and ways to support COTA’s mission, click here.
