The 2021 Annual Report shares the impact of Richie's Spirit Foundation this year and the organization's vision for the year to come.

Love Joy Dadulo Richards, one of six HBCU Organ and Tissue Donation Advocacy Scholarship winners, is a Licensed Practical Nurse and a student at the University of the Virgin Islands pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Nursing. As a dialysis nurse, Love Joy has seen the incredible impact of organ donation on the lives of her patients and their families.

Ashis Dhakal, a senior from Salt Lake City, made difficult decisions alongside his family to escape poverty and illness, and pursue a better life. Relocating as a refugee was challenging as he faced inequity in a Nepali refugee camp, with limited access to basic needs. Motivated by his own experiences and to uphold his value of service, Ashis decided it was his mission to make a difference in the lives of those affected by extreme poverty. Richie’s Spirit Foundation recognizes Ashis Dhakal as the First Place Winner of the 2021 Significant Challenge Scholarship!

Years of treatment and multiple surgeries did not stop Nathan Marohn, a graduating senior from Stevensville, Michigan, from fulfilling his role as a community leader. With a motivation to transform lives, he resiliently met the challenges of his medical condition to advocate for the Ulcerative Colitis community. Richie’s Spirit Foundation recognizes Nathan as the Second Place Winner for the 2021 Significant Challenge Scholarship.

After realizing there were no established programs to connect children with chronic illnesses like her, Alexandra Crocker dedicated her time to build a support system for others who were in search of acceptance and encouragement throughout their health journey. From this deep-willed mission to transform the lives of families like hers, Fighting H.A.R.D was born to “provide physical, emotional, social, and financial help to families of children impacted by rare diseases and chronic illnesses.” Read more about Alexandra’s story!

After his younger sister, Eva, was diagnosed with hydrocephalus, Jack Henry Kluter-Kruse took truth or dare to a whole new level with the creation of Dare & Donate 2 Hydro. Dares such as running around in a horse mask in a 7-11, while trying to drink a slurpee and eat a bag of chips, were successful in bringing both smiles to his community and awareness of hydrocephalus, a serious brain condition that has required Eva to undergo three brain surgeries. Jack Henry and his family’s dares have raised over $150,000 for hydrocephalus research to date. Read more about Jack Henry’s story.

Ayla Kim of Fort Lee, New Jersey is a 2021 Significant Challenge College Scholarship Finalist: “I was drowning in a sea of troubles and needed to cling on to something. Staring at the electrocardiogram at Mom’s bedside, I found that something. I realized that, like Mom’s heartbeat waves, I will fall to low points, only to rise up from them—and I needed to rise up.” Ayla found organ donation to be that positive aspect on which to cling, and plans to continue her mother’s legacy of giving through raising awareness for organ donation. Read more about Ayla’s story:

Kathryn LaLonde of Tacoma Park, MD is a 2021 Significant Challenge College Scholarship Finalist: “The school failed me. The system failed me. I knew I needed to do something, so I channeled my frustration with a broken system into advocacy… I began to heal, and I also began to help myself by taking the time to self-reflect and recover.” Read more about Kathryn’s story.

As Covid-19 has put a renewed spotlight on everyone’s health and well-being, Richie’s Spirit Foundation continues to educate people about organ donation and support donor recipient families.

Vince Domingo, of Mission Viejo, CA, is the 2020 Significant Challenge College Scholarship Winner:: “Volunteering allowed me to see the possible usage of psychology to help other people (not just the disabled community) who suffer from mental traumas, challenges, and illnesses.” Read more about how Vince overcame significant challenges with compassion, commitment, and positivity.