Archive for February, 2010

No need to feel too guilty about getting your Big Gulp fix at 7-Eleven. You can actually feel good that you are supporting a company that is now promoting organ donation! With Donate Life America’s assistance, 7-Eleven will be instituting a corporate campaign to educate employees and franchisees about the importance of registering to be organ, eye and tissue donors. They will use their online communications tools, such as email and newsletters, to promote a special website, developed by DLA, to monitor employee traffic to donatelife.net.

You may have viewed this yourself on the recent episode of  “Undercover Boss” featuring Joseph DePinto, CEO of 7-Eleven.  Joseph was filmed working incognito as an entry-level employee at several  7-Eleven stores. In the process, he became acquainted with an employee in need of a kidney transplant and vowed to help.

If you missed it, watch it now at http://www.cbs.com/. It was very refreshing to see a large company  promoting not only good business, but but also good corporate citizenship. It reminds us  that people really do want to help, they just need to know our stories so they can.

As DePinto fumbles through coffee-making 101, he is also quite charmed by the coffee maker, Delores, in their Shirley, NY location. She knows all of the customers by name and DePinto is convinced the customers do not come here for the coffee; they come to say “Good Morning” to Delores. When he finds out Delores is in need of a kidney transplant yet continues to maintain an upbeat personality and hard working attitude, he decides to create a program in her honor to help find her the kidney she needs.

DePinto’s segment with Delores ends with “Delores, you’re amazing”. Joseph, we think you’re amazing too. Thank you for understanding and promoting this very special need.

Chris Klug, liver recipient and three-time Olympic snowboarder in the men’s parallel giant slalom, competes in the 2010 Olympic Games Saturday, Feb. 27^th. With roots in Aspen, Colorado and Sisters, Oregon, the 37-year old trains on Mt. Hood and Mt. Bachelor half the year.

Rebounding from a liver transplant in 2000, Klug won the 2002 bronze medal in parallel giant slalom, and is a role model for organ transplant recipients. He was the featured speaker for Donate Life Northwest’s Lifesavers Breakfast in 2006 and promotes organ and tissue donation nationally through The Chris Klug Foundation.

Klug will be one of the most experienced athletes at the Games, with Olympic competitions in 1998, 2002, and 2010.  In 2006 he put together a training group called America’s Snowboard Team and won a spot on this year’s U.S. team.  He recently finished eighth in parallel giant slalom at a World Cup event.

We’ll be glued to the TV February 27^th cheering on this amazing athlete, celebrating his life, honoring his donor and offering hope to the thousands of people in the U.S. awaiting an organ transplant.