Youth Education & Outreach
The following educational services are available FREE of charge to organizations and schools within OneLegacy’s service area in Southern California. For more information on the below youth outreach opportunities, please contact Simera Nichols, Youth Education Coordinator at (213) 229-5673 or snichols@onelegacy.org.
- High School
COLLEGE
Campuses throughout Southern California can chose to take a leap forward in converting organ and tissue donation awareness into action. Your college can do so by hosting a Donate Life event. Please view the Donate Life College/ High School Calendar for ideas and concepts for your club/organization or overall campus.
We can also assist students in communications, marketing, or public relations courses with persuasive speeches or projects.
OneLegacy representatives, transplant recipients and donor family members are available to speak to college or university classes and groups, please contact snichols@onelegacy.org.
Presentations for college nursing or medical classes can be given by a member of OneLegacy’s clinical staff, please email cburrell@onelegacy.org.
Current and past college campus support:
- UCLA: UCLA DoT Org
- Riverside Community College:
Students for Organ Donation - UC Riverside: Students for Organ Donation
- USC: Students for Organ Donation
- Cal State San Bernardino:
Students for Organ Donation - Cal State Northridge:
Communications Students - Cal State Fullerton: Sigma Nu Fraternity, Volunteer Student Services & Student Health Professions Association
- Cal Poly Pomona: Sigma Nu Fraternity
HIGH SCHOOL
Bridging Lives High School Education Program
Bridging Lives is a 45-minute educational presentation created specifically for high schools by OneLegacy, Southern California’s federally designated transplant donor network. The turn-key presentation delivers factual information about the need for and biology behind organ/tissue transplantation, as well as how the organ donation and allocation process serves this critical social need. By exposing students to this information, we aim to help them:
- acquire a deeper understanding of a complex part of the healthcare system;
- learn how they and their families can potentially benefit from a transplant; and
- gain foundational knowledge that in the coming years will help them make an informed decision as to whether to be an organ and/or tissue donor.
Read what teachers say and students say about OneLegacy's Bridging Lives High School Education Program.
Presentation Elements
- Optional pre-test (with answer key) to gauge students' knowledge base
- PowerPoint presentation by professional staff member(s) from OneLegacy
- Guest appearance by a transplant recipient or donor family member (as available)
- PowerPoint presentation (with our laptop and projector as needed)
- Full-color brochures about organ/tissue donation and the Donate Life California Registry
- Optional extra-credit crossword puzzle (with answer key) to extend lesson
How to Schedule a Presentation
This program has been very effective in several different settings, including multiple combined classes, all-school or grade-specific assemblies, and individual classes of any subject where the topic would be appropriate to discuss.
To schedule a presentation or for more information, please contact Simera Nichols, Youth Education Coordinator at (213) 229-5673 or snichols@onelegacy.org. You may also download a Fax Reply Form to schedule a presentation.
Join A Transplant Surgeon For A Day
(2009 rules and guidelines will be posted on 2/1/09)
In observance of National Donate Life Month (April) and National Take Your Son/Daughter to Work Day, OneLegacy partners with St. Joseph Hospital of Orange to provide A hands-on learning experience for students interested in job shadowing a transplant surgeon and hospital staff for the day.
2008 Student Winners:
- Ashie Kapoor – University High School – Irvine, CA
- David Santellan – Dana Hills High School – Dana Point, CA
- Daisy Hernandez – Bravo Medical Magnet High School – Los Angeles, CA
- Serena Ghanshani – Northwood High School –Irvine, CA
- Pei Yun Kao – Irvine High School – Irvine, CA
Read media stories written about the experiences of David and Pei Yun.
Service Learning Projects
Organ and tissue donation is an ideal subject for high school senior projects and scouting organizations. We are proud to support students who wish to inspire their community to donate life.
Congratulations to the 2008 high school graduates who chose organ/tissue donation for the focus of their senior projects:
- Christopher Wells - Quartz Hill High School – Quartz Hill, CA
- Veronica Torres – Whittier High School – Whittier, CA
- Ricky Izquierdo – California High School – Whittier, CA
- Clara Beltran – Norwalk High School – Norwalk, CA
Internship and Volunteer Opportunities
Full time and part-time internships are available in office and supporting our many Donate Life Community Programs, including the Donate Life Ambassadors volunteer program, Donate Life Run/Walk & Family Festival, Donate Life Rose Parade Float, and many more.
MIDDLE & ELEMENTARY SCHOOL RESOURCES
KidZone presented by Mid-America Transplant Services, is an interactive website about organ donation. There is a word search that can be downloaded for your class or youth group.
Gift of a Lifetime presented by Donate Life America and the Musculoskeletal Transplant Foundation (MTF). provides lesson plans and fun activities for this age group..
The James Redford Institute for Transplant Awareness: website interactive resources, films and materials to educate and advocate for organ donation.
By Kids for Kids
Read speeches by elementary school students about organ donation:
Speech #1 | Speech #2 | Speech #3
Classroom Activity Books / Sheets
(Requests for these materials must be made 3 weeks before needed)
- Anita’s Second Chance: A story About Organ And Tissue Donation
- Let’s Learn About Organ And Tissue Donation: An Information & Activities Book
- Let’s Learn About Organ And Tissue Donation: An Information & Activities Book (Spanish)
The above books can also be ordered through Channing-Bete Company .