NJ Father Honors the Memory of His Daughter with a $10,000 Contribution to the Sharing Network Foundation

(West Orange, NJ) — As Father's Day approaches, Mitch Kogen of West Orange, NJ, is commemorating his daughter Riley Kogen's legacy with a generous $10,000 philanthropic contribution to the Sharing Network Foundation, which supports NJ Sharing Network, the federally designated non-profit organ procurement organization (OPO) focused on saving and enhancing lives through the recovery of donated organs and tissue in the Garden State.

In 2012, Riley passed away just a few days after her fifth birthday. In the midst of their grief, Riley’s family members made the important decision for Riley to be an organ donor to give the gift of life to others. Riley’s kidney donations saved the lives of two women. An extension of its partner organization, Riley's Dance Inc., Mitch established the Riley’s Path fund under the Sharing Network Foundation in 2021 to maintain a focus on supporting families impacted by donation and transplantation through crisis funding and academic scholarships.

Mitch Kogen’s $10,000 match contribution not only underscores his ongoing commitment to organ donation awareness but also has inspired many others to contribute. In addition to his financial contributions, Mitch is a past member of the Sharing Network Foundation Board of Trustees and has been actively involved in raising awareness about organ and tissue donation through Foundation events and programs.

Riley's legacy has made an impact on hundreds of families through crisis funding, holiday gifts, high school scholarships, and more. To date, over 750 families have received funding to assist with medical equipment, medication, insurance coverage, rent, utilities, transportation, groceries, gift cards, and more. In 2023 alone, Riley’s Path granted more than $100,000 in support of crisis funding and programs that support organ and tissue donation and transplantation.

According to United Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS), there are over 100,000 Americans - nearly 4,000 of whom live in New Jersey - waiting for a lifesaving organ transplant. Just one organ and tissue donor can save 8 lives and enhance the lives of over 75 others. The opportunity to give the gift of life is extremely rare - not everyone who registers as a donor is able to donate after they pass away. In fact, only 3 in 1,000 people die in a way that allows for organ donation. This underscores the pressing need for more registered donors. To learn more, get involved, and join the National Donate Life Registry as an organ and tissue donor, visit www.NJSharingNetwork.org.

PHOTO CREDIT: Courtesy of NJ Sharing Network

About NJ Sharing Network

NJ Sharing Network, headquartered in New Providence, NJ, is the federally designated non-profit organ procurement organization (OPO) focused on saving and enhancing lives through the recovery of donated organs and tissue in the Garden State. NJ Sharing Network partners with an extensive network of 54 local hospitals to provide hope for the nearly 4,000 New Jersey residents currently waiting for a lifesaving organ transplant, and it is part of the national recovery system for the over 100,000 people on the national transplant waiting list. For five consecutive years, NJ Sharing Network has reported organ donation records, and 3.8 million New Jerseyans are registered as organ and tissue donors, according to the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission (NJMVC). Among the top performing OPOs in the nation, NJ Sharing Network has been recognized by NJBIZ for six consecutive years as one of the state’s ‘Best Places to Work.’ To learn more, get involved, and join the National Donate Life Registry as an organ and tissue donor, visit www.NJSharingNetwork.org.

About the Sharing Network Foundation

The Sharing Network Foundation supports the work of NJ Sharing Network, the federally designated non-profit organization responsible for the recovery of donated organs and tissue in the Garden State. The Foundation is committed to increasing the number of lives saved through clinical advancement, family support, public awareness and education about the lifesaving benefits of organ and tissue donation and transplantation. For more information or to make a contribution, visit www.SharingNetworkFoundation.org.