HonorBridge

11/22/2025

🎄✨ HonorBridge is officially parade-ready! This morning we’re getting decked out for the 2025 Raleigh Christmas Parade! We couldn’t be more excited to celebrate the incredible recipients, donor families, and staff whose lives have been forever changed by organ, eye, and tissue donation.
Our amazing advocates are out here sharing the love and inspiring others to sign up. Give them some holiday cheer!💙💚

11/19/2025

In Their Words: Honoring the Donor Family Experience
“Organ donation is a process, but HonorBridge did it in a loving and honoring way. We were impressed. Everything took place the way they said it would—they had a little ceremony outside the hospital and a raising of the flag. We have nothing bad to say about it. We appreciate it and we appreciate y’all.” —Shane, Donor Dad

11/16/2025

🌟 Meet Our Chief Officers: Kim Koontz, COO 🌟
HonorBridge COO Kim Koontz started her journey in donation speaking with families about cornea donation. In 2004, she joined HonorBridge as a tissue recovery coordinator, and over the next two decades, she held roles from call center manager to director of tissue services before stepping into her current role as COO in 2017.
💬“As COO, I look at where we could go and what we could do. I do some research, analyze data, and partner with other leaders about opportunities for the organization. For me, it’s about building a foundation and vision and helping remove barriers for folks to do their day-to-day job.”
Read more: https://honorbridge.org/blog/get-to-know-our-chief-officers-meet-kim-koontz-chief-operating-officer

11/11/2025

🏍️This Veterans Day, we honor the many donor veterans, like Patrick Brozowski, whose service continues even after their lifetime.
💙"My husband was a proud father, Marine, and member of the Combat Veterans Motorcycle Association. We were both involved in a motorcycle accident, and while I recovered, he did not. Through a directed donation, I was able to receive one of his tissue grafts. I might not be able to grow old with him, but now, I can grow old with a piece of him." -Liz

🔗Read Patrick’s story here: https://honorbridge.org/stories-of-hope/patrick-brozowskis-story-beyond-the-battlefield/

11/11/2025

💙 This National Nurse Practitioner (NP) Week, we celebrate Eric Gill, a palliative care NP and liver transplant recipient.
Eric knows firsthand what it means to face illness—after nearly 20 years with cirrhosis, he received a lifesaving liver transplant in June 2024. Now, he brings that experience to his patients, offering empathy that comes from truly “being there.”
🔗Read more: https://honorbridge.org/stories-of-hope/eric-gill-a-nurse-practitioners-second-chance-2/

11/06/2025

💙 “Trying every time is so important—new technologies let us save lives we couldn’t before.” – Dr. Andrew Barbas, Duke Transplant Surgeon Duke University Hospital
From liver and kidney to pediatric transplants, Dr. Barbas uses cutting-edge technology to give more patients a second chance at life, even using organs once considered too risky.
Hear more from Dr. Barbas about the importance of innovation on saving and healing lives: https://bit.ly/47xu7Ik

11/05/2025

💙A Special Message from Leadership 💚

Today, our President and CEO, Danielle Bumarch announced that she will retire in June 2026 following 27 years of service to HonorBridge. Since 1999, Danielle has been integral to the growth and success of our organization. She has led us to continuous record-breaking growth, increasing the number of lives saved through donation by 63% over the past decade.

👏Danielle has fostered a vibrant culture at HonorBridge rooted in a true neighborly spirit; everyone at HonorBridge strives to make a life-changing difference in our community. True to her nature, Danielle has allowed ample time to ensure HonorBridge is left in good hands and will assist the board in its nationwide search for her successor.

🫶 As Danielle embarks on this well-deserved journey to retirement, we invite you to join us in thanking Danielle for her unwavering dedication to our donor heroes, their families, and the thousands of North Carolinians on the transplant waiting list.

💙💚From all of us at HonorBridge: Danielle, we will miss the guidance, compassion, and warmth that defines you as a leader. We wish you all the best.

🔗https://honorbridge.org/blog-featured/a-special-message-from-leadership-after-decades-of-saving-and-healing-lives-danielle-bumarch-set-to-retire-as-president-and-ceo-in-june-2026/

11/03/2025

👁️✨ November is Eye Donation Awareness Month, a time to honor the gift of sight and the donors who make it possible.
Through cornea donation, just one person can restore vision for up to two people, giving them the chance to see loved ones, experience the world more fully, and live with greater independence.
This month, we remember those who have given the gift of sight and encourage everyone to consider saying “yes” to eye, organ, and tissue donation. Your decision can truly change how someone sees the world. 💙💚Sign up to be an organ, eye, and tissue donor today!

11/02/2025

💙 As we continue to celebrate 40 years of impact in 2025, we’re honored to share the story of Delores Evans.
After battling kidney disease for 30+ years, Delores’ life was forever changed after her son, Ryan, provided her with the gift of life after he passed.
For the past 15+ years, Delores has been an incredible volunteer and advocate, inspiring countless people to say “yes” to organ, eye, and tissue donation.
Read more: honorbridge.org/blog-featured/a-conversation-with-delores-evans-donor-mom-kidney-recipient-and-honorbridge-volunteer

11/01/2025

More than 104,000 people are waiting for a lifesaving organ transplant. Sadly, former NFL star Nick Mangold was among those who never received one in time. He was also a beloved son, husband, father, teammate, and friend.
Honor his memory by signing up to become an organ, eye, and tissue donor after death at HonorBridge.org. 💚

🔗https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/46732108/nick-mangold-former-jets-star-center-dies-age-41

Former New York Jets center Nick Mangold has died due to complications from kidney disease. He was 41.

10/31/2025

👻Ghosts are spooky. 🧟Zombies are spooky. But what's really scary? Aunt Marge could live longer (thanks to organ donation). This Halloween, you can save lives by signing up to be an organ, eye, and tissue donor (Aunt Marge's included)! Sign up today! https://honorbridge.org/registerme/

10/28/2025

🚑 This , we’re spotlighting Alyssa Schuster, a former paramedic and medical examiner who now serves as HonorBridge’s EMS/ME Liaison.
Alyssa bridges the gap between first responders and donation—educating, advocating, and helping save more lives. 💙
Read her story ➡️ https://honorbridge.org/blog/bridging-the-gap-an-interview-with-alyssa-schuster-ems-medical-examiner-liaison-at-honorbridge