OneLegacy

10/09/2025

Join OneLegacy at the Montebello Heritage Festival & 5K Run/Walk on Sunday, Oct. 12, 2025 — a day filled with fun, fitness, and purpose!

Whether you’re running, walking, or cheering from the sidelines, you’ll help raise awareness for organ, eye, and tissue donation — the gift that heals and saves lives. 💙

➡️ Use promo code: RunOneLegacy when you register, and $10 from your registration will go directly to support OneLegacy’s mission. Plus, you'll get $5 off your fee!

🎟️ Register now: runsignup.com/Race/CA/Montebello/Montebello5K

Let’s come together to honor donors, celebrate recipients, and inspire more people to say “YES” to donation.

10/06/2025

“My family and I chose to become donors inspired by the example set by my mom. Being a donor was something she always wanted, and it was noted on her driver’s license."

Maria Gomez, known as Mary to her family and friends, was a talented seamstress, babysitter and even built kitchen countertops, according to her daughter, Joanne Gomez.

"She worked in healthcare for over 20 years, and at the time of her passing, she was employed at an assisted living facility. My mom was a dedicated worker—loyal, positive and confident."

Nearly a year ago, 64-year-old Mary passed away after sustaining injuries in an auto accident.She left a lasting legacy through her tissue donation, helping to improve and save the lives of countless patients. Mary's cornea donation restored sight to an 83-year-old woman in Florida and a 62-year-old man in North Carolina.

"Our family chose to honor her wish by donating her corneas and tissues. We take pride and comfort in knowing that part of her is still helping others, which is what she loved todo. We feel proud and honored by that decision. Knowing your loved one is continuing to give, just as they always did, makes it worth it. When the time comes, you won’t need your body anymore—you are a spirit, a light. Why let that go to waste? Give someone else the chance to live a little longer, a little better. Think about giving another family that opportunity. Wouldn't you want someone to give your loved one a chance?”

Observed from September 15 to October 15, Hispanic Heritage Month honors the history, resilience, and contributions of Hispanic/Latino communities across the U.S. This year’s theme is Collective Heritage: Honoring the Past, Inspiring the Future.

Story via Association for Multicultural Affairs in Transplantation 💙💚

10/03/2025

"My husband Victor was born in Cali, Colombia and will always be remembered for the wonderful and helpful human being that he was in our Hispanic/Latino community.

He served our community as one of the best paralegals that I’ve ever met. Victor always went out of his way to help others, so humble and dedicated. He loved to play the drums, travel, wine, and dine. He definitely made an impact in all the lives that he touched, including up to the very end of his life, where he became a donor.
A piece of him continues living in his purpose of helping others.

He is deeply missed. He will never be forgotten. I love you more than words can say."

~ Edith

Observed from September 15 to October 15, Hispanic Heritage Month honors the history, resilience, and contributions of Hispanic/Latino communities across the U.S. This year’s theme is Collective Heritage: Honoring the Past, Inspiring the Future.

10/02/2025

Join OneLegacy at the Montebello Heritage Festival & 5K Run/Walk on Sunday, October 12, 2025 — a day of fun, fitness, and purpose!

Whether you're running, walking, or cheering from the sidelines, you can help raise awareness for organ, eye, and tissue donation — a gift that heals and saves lives. 💙

➡️ Use promo code: RunOneLegacy when you register, and $10 from your registration will go directly to support OneLegacy’s mission. Plus, you'll get $5 off your fee!

🎟️ Register now: https://runsignup.com/Race/CA/Montebello/Montebello5K

Let’s come together to honor donors, celebrate recipients, and inspire more people to say “YES” to donation.

10/01/2025

58 years ago, Denice Lombard’s father gave her the ultimate gift, his left kidney. She was 13. Without it, she wouldn’t have survived. Today, at 71, she still lives life fully, fiercely, and gratefully. Honoring her dad’s legacy with every step, every rally, and every game of pickleball.

Her father’s kidney turns 97 this week, the same age Ted Lombard would’ve been. One of the longest-living donor-recipient pairs in the world. A father’s love made it possible.

“I do right by it by living a full life,” Denice says. “He always said that was a good return on his investment.”

Say “yes” to organ donation, register as a donor, and talk to your loved ones about your wishes. Thousands are still waiting for the gift Denice received. You can be a hero too.

09/30/2025

This past weekend, we had an amazing time connecting with our community at the Kern County Fair! 💚

Our booth featured a free custom tote bag activation and a fun spin-the-wheel prize game but the real highlight was the opportunity to meet and speak with hundreds of fairgoers about the importance of organ, eye, and tissue donation.

We’re grateful to our dedicated OneLegacy Ambassadors, who engaged the community with meaningful conversations and shared impactful stories about the importance of donation.

We also teamed up with local influencers to help spread the word and hosted a special giveaway for community members to enjoy the fair, further expanding our reach and impact.

Together, we’re building a legacy of hope. ✨

09/25/2025

Such an inspiring story from an NFL legend. 💙💚

“Something I wish no parent ever has to go through happened to me on my way to pick up my daughter for work and watch my grandson. Before leaving the house, I checked on both of my boys. Normally, they would come with me everywhere, but that day they wanted to stay home and play a game. I dropped my daughter off and picked up my grandson. On my way back, my youngest son called, panicked.

He said, ‘Dad, Jovante says he can’t breathe.’ I told him to put him on the phone, but he couldn’t find him. Then he called back yelling, ‘Dad, he’s collapsed!’ I told him to check if he was breathing and call 911. I raced home as fast as I could. When I pulled up, the paramedics were working on my baby in the back of the ambulance. They said they were trying to resuscitate him and would take him to the hospital.

At the hospital, we waited and prayed for three days as doctors ran tests and tried everything they could, but there was no brain activity. On August 14, at 8:20 p.m., I’ll never forget, they pronounced my son, Jovante, brain dead. All I could do was plead, ‘Please, baby, please,’ but he was gone.

Afterward, a chaplain and two women I hadn’t seen before came in. They introduced themselves as representatives from Network for Hope. They told me my son had checked ‘yes’ on his driver’s permit to be an organ donor. In that moment, I lost it. I cursed them out—I had just lost my baby, and I thought they were there to take his organs. But the women explained that it was up to me and his mom, and they only wanted us to know his wishes.

I demanded proof. They brought out the document and enlarged his signature. I recognized it immediately—we had practiced his autograph together because he dreamed of making it to the next level. Seeing that signature, I knew it was his.

His mom and I looked at each other, unsure of what to do. Finally, we said, ‘Let’s do what he wanted to do.’ We agreed to honor his choice to be an organ and tissue donor.

Today, I’m a registered organ and tissue donor myself, and I’m proud that my son’s legacy lives on through the four lives he saved as an organ donor and the countless others as a tissue donor.

To carry that forward, I founded the Jovante Woods Foundation in his honor, focused on asthma education and research. His life, and his decision, continue to make a difference.”

— Ickey Woods, Donor Dad, former NFL player

Thank you to Ickey for being a keynote speaker at the AMAT Conference. His passion and storytelling inspired the room and Jovante’s gifts continue to make an impact.

09/24/2025

What an incredible day at the 10th Annual Santa Barbara Walk & BBQ! 🚶‍♂️🔥

On Saturday, September 20, 2025, our community came together to honor organ donors, celebrate transplant recipients, and raise awareness for the gift of life. 💚

From the meaningful walk to the delicious BBQ and heartfelt connections, every moment reminded us of the power of generosity and hope.

Thank you to everyone who joined us and helped make this day unforgettable!

09/23/2025

The Inland Empire came to OneLegacy to learn ... but left inspired. Over 130 medical professionals and nursing students joined together to learn about the heart of our mission: saving lives through organ, eye, and tissue donation.

These health care workers were part of our first Symposium to be hosted in the Inland Empire, titled "The Fundamentals of Donation – Back to the Basics for a Brighter Tomorrow." Students from Mount San Jacinto and Carrington Colleges joined critical care nurses and donation and transplantation professionals from local hospitals, including Arrowhead Regional Medical Center, Riverside Community Hospital, and Loma Linda University Children's Health. From exploring the donor family journey to pediatric transplantation, attendees immersed themselves in the core of what makes organ, eye, and tissue donation so impactful. With 6 CEUs earned, new insights gained, and connections built, OneLegacy continues our mission to educate and empower medical professionals across the communities we serve. When we go back to the basics, we move forward, together, in saving lives.

09/23/2025

This past Saturday, 9/20/2025, we hosted our Annual OneLegacy Ambassador Conference at our Azusa campus and what an incredible day it was!

With over 60 passionate ambassadors in attendance, the day was filled with connection, purpose, and inspiration. Attendees had the chance to meet and mingle, get the latest program updates, join in on fun group activities and games, and most importantly, take part in a deeply moving Honor Walk.

Thank you to everyone who joined us and continues to share the powerful message of donation and hope.

09/22/2025

"I had a single lung transplant on December 2nd of last year. My younger brother who had the same disease lost his battle three years ago. I know God has giving me a mission to share my journey. Thank you, organ donors! I'm going to do everything that is in my power to make sure that they know that their donation is well worth it. The one woman that gave me her lung saved five different lives. Organ donation saves lives."

—Deborah C.

09/13/2025