I write you this evening from my home in Alexandria, Va., arriving very late Sunday from the National Kidney Foundation (NKF) Transplant Games. I confess I’m a little tired, yet filled with joy and gratitude for experiencing the celebration of life and love at this amazing event.

Since 1990, the Games have demonstrated the remarkable success of transplantation to the world, honored the selfless acts of thousands of donors and their families, and encouraged even more lifesaving organ donations. The Phi Sigma Sigma Foundation’s sponsorship of these Games (made possible by the funding generosity of sisters like you) helped ensure this year’s event was a huge success. Yet despite these efforts and more, 18 people die each day waiting for a transplant!

We can change this – with your help. In coming weeks, we’ll share what we’ve learned through the Games with our collegian and alumnae chapters, as well as all sisters, so that together we can promote greater awareness for organ donation. Alumnae are welcome to join us by following along on our Web site (www.phisigmasigmafoundation.org), making a special gift to support these vital efforts, or volunteering to help. Together, we can and we will make a difference, so stay tuned!

Personally, as I look back over my three days in Louisville, my heart is overwhelmed with feelings of awe and pride.

I am in awe of the courage shown by the transplant recipients as they braved the ravages of their illness, not knowing whether they would live long enough for donors to be found. I am awed by the courage of donors who were willing to risk their lives to save others, and the courage of donor families who made the decision to donate the organs of lost loved ones so that others could live.

I feel pride, love, and respect for the incredible women representing Phi Sigma Sigma.

We could not have asked more from our sisters (my “boos,” a new term I learned this weekend, meaning friends)! They traveled to the Games from Northern Kentucky University (Gamma Tau), Indiana University at Kokomo (Iota Epsilon), Indiana University Southeast (Epsilon Chi), and the University of Illinois (Theta). They laughed, cried, and were incredible volunteers at each of our events. The weekend was particularly moving for one of our Iota Epsilon sisters, Aubrey Birden, who received a kidney from her father at age 6.

Our collegian reporter, Allison Brunner (Delta Theta), was poised, focused, and the consummate professional as she approached and interviewed athletes, donors, and families. (Look for stories from Allison soon on the Foundation Web site and elsewhere.) Lisa Romero, our Sphinx Editor, shared her extensive journalism experience with Allison by serving as her mentor. In addition, Lisa led efforts onsite to assemble our fabulous blog, gently and ably guiding us as we translated our experiences into words.

Finally, words cannot capture my pride in our Transplant Games Coordinator, Katie Herschede. Katie’s clear vision for what we could achieve through the Games enabled the Foundation to aim higher than we ever could have on our own. Katie made all of us want to work as hard as she did – and her forethought, consistent follow-through, and ever-present wit were the backbone of our success at the Games.

Indeed, our success was made possible by so many that Katie and I have decided to pay tribute to them in our final blog entry, so please read on.

For now, know that while the Games may be over – our journey to promote the gift of life continues. We hope, as a Phi Sigma Sigma, you’ll make that journey with us – and help make a difference in the lives of thousands who, like the athletes we met, truly make the world a better place.

Kim Hildred, Foundation President