Tia Nedd
ORGAN DONOR FOUNDATION

In the spring of 1996, 13-year-old Tia Nedd died in a tragic automobile accident.  Tia's family,
during their time of bereavement, decided to donate Tia's organs giving six people a second chance 
for life. 

There is a great need for organ and tissue donors in the African American community. 
Every day in the United States, 10 of the nearly 45,000* patients awaiting transplants die.
Half of these patients are minorities, although mit6rities represent a ~uch smaller number of
available donors. 

With a mission to save lives, the Tia Nedd Foundation was established to educate and increase the
number of minority organ donors. One donor can yield life saving organs for seven people and quality
enhancing tissues for 20. Please join this effort by pledging your organs for life. 

For more information, contact the Tia Nedd Organ Donor Foundation
P.O. Box 20, Milan, Michigan 48160-0020 (313) TIA-NEDD
*Source, the United Network for Organ Sharing, 4/96




Tia Nedd 
Organ Donor Foundation
Fact Sheet

What:
Tia Nedd Organ Donor Foundation

When Established
July, 1996, in collaboration with the Gift of Life and the Minority Organ Tissue Transplant Education
Program (MOTTEP). 

Why Established
1. The Tia Nedd Organ Donor Foundation was established to honor the memory of 13-year-old Tia Nedd, whose organs were donated after she died from a tragic automobile accident. 
2. While donating Tia's organs, Tia's loved ones learned of the serious lack of organ donors in the
African American community. Donors which are needed to save lives.
3. The Tia Nedd Organ Donor Foundation was established to help educate the African-American
community about the importance of becoming organ and tissue donors. The organization will a)
increase awareness, b) provide tissue screening, c) organize family support groups,
d) encourage the signing of organ donor cards, and e) ultimately increase the number of
minority organ donors.

Why Minorities Do Not Donate Organs 
In 1980, Dr. Clive Callendar, Director of the Transplant Center at Howard University Hospital 
in Washington, DC, was approached by the South East Organ Procurement Foundation to find out why 
minorities donated less frequently than whites. A focus group was formed and five reasons were 
discovered why African Americans, in particular, were not donating: 

1. Lack of Awareness
2. Religious beliefs and superstitions,
3. Fear of premature death,
4. Mistrust of the medical community, and
5. Racism

Why Needed
Everyday in the United States, 10 of the nearly 45,000 patients awaiting transplants die. Half of these
patients are minorities, although minorities represent a much smaller number of available donors.

What Organs Can Be Donated 
One donor can yield life-saving organs for seven people and quality enhancing tissues for 20 people.
The seven organs that can be donated are: both lungs, pancreas, both kidneys, heart, liver. Examples 
of tissue that can be donated include: cornea, skin and bone. 

Awareness Program
As part of an awareness campaign, the Tia Nedd Organ Donor Foundation plans:
1. A direct mail campaign to increase awareness of the need for minority organ donors by directly
   reaching the households of African Americans.
2. Speaking engagements and presentations at other forums.
3. Special events, including health fairs and tissue screenings.
4. An educational video (s) highlighting the need for minority organ donors.
5. A publicity campaign to deliver messages via the news media.
6. An advertising/public service campaign to include television, radio, print ads and billboards.
7. Posters, t-shirts and button;
8. and A quarterly newsletter.



Board of Directors 
Ruth Ann Kersey					Chairman of Board
Cathy M. Nedd					Executive Director
Anthony S. K. Nedd				Deputy Director
M. Yvonne Hambright				Treasurer
Robert S.D. Higgins, MD				Surgical Director, Thoracic Organ Transplant Program,
						Henry Ford Hospital
Skyla P. Thomas					Community Programs Director
Alfred Bolden, Jr., RN, BSN			Clinical Manager, Transplantation Society of Michigan
W. Alvin Jackson				International Fleet Sales Manager, Chrysler Corporation
Bobby Jones					Chief Operating Officer and Executive Director
						OmniCare Health Plan
Baylee Reid, Esquire				Reid & Associates


Community Support
Community support is encouraged to help save lives. Donations to the Tia Nedd Foundation should
be sent to PO Box 20, Milan, Michigan 48160-0020; or call (313) TIA-NEDD.





P. O. Box 20 . Milan, Michigan 48160-0020
Detroit: (313) TIA-NEDD
All Other Areas: (313) 528-0221 . FAX: (313) 528-0223


Organ Donor Registration Form - Front



Organ Donor Registration Form - Back


To get a copy of this Organ Donor Card Please contact the Tia Nedd Foundation

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