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2008 NTAF Community Heroes

09/20/2009
News

2008 NTAF Community Heroes:

• Dr. Jack and Patricia Kolff, B.S.N., NTAF co-founders, were presented with an anniversary gift by Tim Haahs, former NTAF heart transplant patient, and NTAF Executive Director Lynne Samson, for their long-time contributions to the transplant community. Dr. Jack Kolff founded the first heart transplant program in the Delaware Valley in 1983 at Temple Medical Hospital, one of twelve in the country at the time. Together Jack and Patricia launched NTAF (originally named the National Heart Assist and Transplant Fund [NHATF]) in 1983 in suburban Philadelphia. Patricia served as executive director of NTAF from 1983 to 2003;
   
• Dave Huddleston, Emmy award winning journalist and Fox29 (Philadelphia) weekday news co-anchor, was recognized for his selfless gift (twice given) of bone marrow to a 17-year-old leukemia patient, and his ongoing participation in educating the public about the need for organ, tissue and marrow donation. Dave actively reports on issues pertaining to organ, tissue and marrow donation during the month of April on Fox29. He is a registered NMDP donor and an NMDP Board Member;
   
• The Rev. Robert (Bob) Rogers, formerly an interim pastor at Paoli Presbyterian Church of Paoli, Pa., was honored for his selfless decision to be a living kidney donor to the Rev. Jim Churchill, also formerly of Paoli Presbyterian.