ITASCA, Ill. (Aug. 31, 2026) – The Gift of Hope Community Foundation will honor Kelvin Martin, heart transplant recipient and longtime donation advocate, with a 2026 Life Changer Passionate People Award at the 3rd Annual Gift of Hope Community Foundation Celebration of Donation 5K Run, Walk & Roll on Sep. 13, in Glen Ellyn, Illinois at the College of DuPage. The award recognizes individuals whose dedication and advocacy advances the mission of organ and tissue donation.
The Community Foundation presents the Life Changer Passionate People Award to individuals whose actions make a measurable difference through exceptional commitment to organ and tissue donation and transplantation. Recipients demonstrate integrity, personal excellence, commitment, positivity, courage, advocacy, and a can-do attitude while helping save and enhance lives through donation.
Martin’s journey is one of resilience and gratitude. Diagnosed with congestive heart failure at just 25 years old, he endured multiple health challenges, including three heart attacks while awaiting a lifesaving transplant. Thanks to the generosity of an organ donor, Martin received a new heart and was given a second chance at life in January 2014. Since then, he has dedicated himself to educating others about the importance of organ donation and encouraging families to have conversations about donor registration.
“Kelvin embodies the spirit of the Passionate People Award,” said Audrena Spence, Executive Director of the Gift of Hope Community Foundation. “His commitment to donation advocacy, coupled with his willingness to share his personal transplant journey, has inspired countless community members to register as organ and tissue donors.”
As a son, father, grandfather and community advocate, Martin has spent more than a decade sharing his story to inspire hope among transplant candidates, recipients, donor families and the broader community. Through his volunteer work with Gift of Hope Organ & Tissue Donor Network, he has helped raise awareness about the critical need for registered organ and tissue donors.
During a recent Gift of Hope “Let’s Talk Hope” podcast conversation, Martin stressed the importance of discussing donation with loved ones and helping communities better understand the life-saving impact of transplantation. His message of hope and education continues to encourage more people to register as organ and tissue donors.
The Celebration of Donation 5K Run, Walk & Roll is a community-focused event that raises awareness and funds while honoring donor families and celebrating transplant recipients whose lives have been saved through the generosity of donor heroes. This year, approximately 1,250 participants are expected to join the event in support of donation and transplantation.
Gift of Hope is again partnering with Fleet Feet for the race, College of DuPage and our media partners WGN-TV and Omni Channel Radio. Additional sponsors include Donate Life Illinois and its partners: The Office of the Illinois Secretary of State, Eversight, Mid-America Transplant, Transplant Life Illinois and the National Kidney Foundation of Illinois as well as Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago, Northwestern Medicine and Rush University Medical Center.
The awards presentation will take place immediately following the races on Sept. 13.
To learn more about the Community Foundation or support its initiatives, visit giftofhope.org/give.
About Gift of Hope Community Foundation
Established in 2018, the Gift of Hope Community Foundation raises funds to support Gift of Hope Organ & Tissue Donor Network’s mission and programs, to save and enhance the lives of as many people as possible through organ and tissue donation. Learn more about the Foundation at giftofhope.org/give.
About Gift of Hope
Gift of Hope Organ & Tissue Donor Network is the nonprofit organ procurement organization that coordinates organ and tissue donation and provides public education on donation in Illinois and northwest Indiana. As one of 55 organ procurement organizations in the national organ donation system, Gift of Hope works with 180 hospitals and serves 12 million people in its donation service area. Since 1986, its work has saved the lives of more than 30,000 organ transplant recipients and improved the lives of hundreds of thousands of tissue transplant recipients. For more information, visit giftofhope.org.