fbpx

Bloomfield Hills couple pledges $125,000 to Gift of Life Michigan

Portrait of Krishna and Pamela Sawhney

Donation will support award-winning youth education program

Pamela and Krishna Sawhney of Bloomfield Hills have donated $125,000 over five years to Gift of Life Michigan to support the organization’s award-winning student education program, All of Us. It’s the largest gift in the organization’s 51-year history.

“I just have so much respect for everything that goes on at Gift of Life. I’m touched by this entire program and the lives saved,” said Pamela Sawhney. “We both gravitated to All of Us and hope it now will go on forever.”

Red plastic case with plastic bone sample, with a cover that reads "Pam's All of Us Student Education Traveling Trunk" with the Gift of Life Michigan logoThe All of Us student education program is designed to teach middle and high schoolers about organ and tissue donation. It won a Pinnacle Award from Donate Life America for Best Multicultural Outreach in 2021. All of Us features a life-sized plastic torso that shows the anatomy of the human body and genuine organ and tissue samples, which have been plasticized,  that can be brought into classrooms to give students a hands-on experience. Organ or tissue recipients often accompany Gift of Life education specialists to share their stories and explain how donation has changed their lives. The red trunks containing the All of Us materials will be named “Pam’s All of Us Student Education Program Traveling Trunk” in honor of the couple’s generosity.

“This major gift allows us to continue to share All of Us education with students across the state and also take it to a new level,” said Susan Rink, chief of philanthropy and financial programs for the Gift of Life Foundation. “It’s an incredible gift because we know education leads to new donor registrations, which save lives. We simply cannot thank the Sawhneys enough for their generosity and support.”

Krishna and Pam Sawhney standing behind a large red traveling trunk on a handcart.Pamela is an attorney with a nursing background who serves on Gift of Life’s Governing Board. Krishna is a surgeon at Henry Ford Wyandotte Hospital who in 1989 was involved with helping the Michigan Secretary of State place the organ donor signature area on the back of Michigan driver’s licenses. The red heart on the front has since replaced that early indicator.

Both are champions of organ and tissue donation and believe educating children is the key to breaking myths passed through generations. They also enjoy giving to organizations and causes that are often overlooked and hope their gift encourages others to consider Gift of Life in their philanthropic decisions.

Krishna said reaching young people is the key to making a difference.

“If you want to inspire change, teach the children, who will then teach their parents,” he said.

For more about the All of Us program, visit golm.org/allofus.

To sign up as a donor, visit golm.org/register.

Read More Posts
Guadalupe Alejos, who received a kidney transplant 50 years ago, standing in front of the Kidney Transplant Center sign

Transplant Throwback: Guadalupe Alejos 

Name: Guadalupe Alejos Age: 77 Home: Grand Rapids Transplant: Kidney at Trinity Health Kidney Transplant Center…

Read More
Heart transplant recipient Rachel Kuntzsch

Lansing heart recipient saves lives by telling her story of hope

Life was “exceedingly rich” for Rachel Kuntzsch when it nearly slipped into darkness forever. She…

Read More
Someone holding a pen signing their state income tax form

New law lets residents sign up through tax forms

Michigan residents who haven’t yet added their names to the Michigan Organ Donor Registry will…

Read More
Newborn baby wrapped in orange towel with headband

Baby Jade Townsend saves the life of another infant

Case results in protocol change with worldwide implications One of Gift of Life Michigan’s smallest…

Read More
Check Your Heart graphic featuring Aimee Cruz saying "I'm here today because someone checked their heart."

Using digital marketing to save lives

Growing awareness one impression at a time Gift of Life Michigan is working to educate…

Read More
Artelia Griggs, donor mother, receiving an award from Christine Peiter, Gift of Life employee and tissue graft recipient

Gift of Life’s gala generates thousands for critical programs

Popular signature event will grow in 2024 The annual Champions Gala honoring people and organizations…

Read More
Scroll to Top