Tuesday, October 20, 2015

Survivor's Jeff Probst To Host Organ Donation Fundraiser Benefiting Taylor's Gift




Jeff Probst 
Taylor’s Gift Foundation will be holding their inaugural “Outlive Yourself” Awards and fundraising event on November 5, 2015, at 3015 at Trinity Groves. The event will be held to honor those who are making a lasting difference in their community and the lives of others. Taylor’s Gift is a non-profit organization dedicated to the life-saving effort of increasing organ donor registrations and financially assist families touched by organ donation.

The foundation has consistently encouraged supporters to “Outlive Yourself” ever since they were founded in 2010. What does it mean to “Outlive Yourself?” It’s a spirit of giving and a mindset of going above and beyond for others and living selflessly. Taylor’s Gift encourages being an organ donor to be part of how you can Outlive Yourself. The Outlive Yourself awards will be hosted by Celebrity and Taylor’s Gift spokesperson, Jeff Probst, host of the CBS reality TV show, Survivor.

Probst will also serve as Honorary Chair alongside event chair, Kate Dorff. Dorff is a passionate supporter of organ donation; her sister, Abbye, received a heart transplant in April 2013, at the age of 26. Dorff’s grandmother was also a liver transplant recipient in 1994, and because of the selfless act of an organ donor, she was given another 17 years of life. Dorff has vowed to honor these two donors, their families and their selfless acts through supporting organizations like Taylor’s Gift. Karen Borta, CBS DFW News Anchor will be in attendance as the media host. For more information or to purchase tickets, visit http://blog.taylorsgift.org/event/2015awards


Being honored at the inaugural awards are two individuals who embody the true selfless nature that the “Outlive Yourself” motto and the gift of organ donation are all about:

Karen Cuskey is one of the dedicated honorees being celebrated at the Foundation’s first award ceremony. Cuskey is the owner of The Barber Shop Marketing. The Stephen F. Austin Alumni is also the co-founder of Tacky Box, an award-winning book and teaching tool for children that promotes kindness. Cuskey pursues the “outlive yourself” motto through all of her endeavors and her enthusiasm to help others is reflected throughout her accomplishments. Karen believes that her purpose in life is to leave the world a better place, whether that is through huge commitments or the smallest deeds. Cuskey is continually striving every day to build a lasting legacy for individuals, numerous charities and her clients. Her determination and selflessness makes her a pillar in not only her community but within Taylor’s Gift.


O.H. Frazier, M.D. is also being honored for his outstanding achievements. His work and research in the medical field has revolutionized organ donation and organ transplantation. Dr. Frazier is chief of Cardiopulmonary Transplantation, program director and chief of the Center for Cardiac Support, and director of Cardiovascular Surgery Research at the Texas Heart Institute. He is also chief of the Transplant Service at CHI Baylor St. Luke’s Medical Center. On top of his countless positions within the medical field, Dr. Frazier has also held academic appointments at different prestigious collegiate institutes throughout the state of Texas. He is one of the pioneers in the treatment of severe heart failure and in the fields of heart transplantation and artificial devices. With more than 30 years of distinguished work under his belt, he has now performed over 1,300 heart transplants and implanted more than 1,000 left ventricular assist devices, more than any other surgeon in the world. Frazier’s pioneering efforts in the clinical advancement of cardiac transplantation and of mechanical circulatory support and replacement devices, have helped make the countless organ donations possible.

Oh So Cynthia is proud to be the blog sponsor for the Outlive Yourself Awards.  For more information or to purchase tickets, visit http://blog.taylorsgift.org/event/2015awards