Philadelphia, PA — The Jessica Beth Schwartz Memorial Scholarship is pleased to announce that three organ transplant recipients are the winners of its 2024-25 higher education scholarships.
The Jessica Beth Schwartz Memorial Scholarship is funded through the Gift of Life Transplant Foundation, the charitable foundation which supports the mission of Gift of Life Donor Program. This year, the scholarship program issued $2,000 awards to transplant recipients seeking higher education. The scholarship was created in memory of heart transplant recipient Jessica Beth Schwartz.
“Each year I am inspired by the challenging journey these young men and women have experienced at such a young age,” said Jessie’s mother and scholarship co-founder, Janice Schwartz-Donahue. “I am grateful to have the opportunity to continue to honor my daughter’s legacy by helping these students pursue higher education.”
2024-2025 Scholarship Winners:
Brian Bruder – Collegeville, PA
At the age of nine, Brian was diagnosed with a rare autoimmune disease called Dense Deposit Disease. Following the diagnosis, Brian was placed on a strict regimen of medications and his family enlisted the help of Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia medical staff to slow down the progression of the disease. As time went on, Brian’s kidney was declining which caused very daunting side effects on his health. Throughout the years, Brian remained positive both in and out of the operating room. He was a very active member of the Pope John Paull II High School community participating in football, golf, and playing every position on the school’s lacrosse team. He also enjoys surfing and has worked as a lifeguard. The nurturing staff at CHOP as well as the support from his family aided him through his struggles of having to wait for a transplant. Brian received a healthy new kidney through a paired exchange in which his mother became a living donor on his behalf and another donor who was a match for Brian made his transplant possible on December 18, 2023. He was discharged from the hospital on Christmas Eve of last year, a true gift to his family.
“I am eternally grateful to my mother for donating her kidney to the kidney registry so that I could get a spot higher on the recipient list. She essentially gave me life for the second time. I thank God every day for all the gifts that I have been given. I intend to live my life to its fullest.”
Brian and his family continue to support the cause of organ donation education and awareness through an organization they started called “Brian’s Buddies.” Brian is attending Temple University in the fall alongside his brother.
Nadia Kadi – Doylestown, PA
Just six months after birth Nadia was rushed to Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia suffering from extreme liver failure. She underwent multiple surgeries and spent many months in the inpatient unit. Nadia’s parents were told she wouldn’t see her second birthday without a transplant. At 9 months old, Nadia was bumped to the top of the national liver transplant list. Nadia received her gift of life in April 2006. Nadia has overcome complications since her transplant and enjoys being able to help others, especially her brother Adam, who is autistic. Nadia advocates for transplant waitlist patients by sharing her story and gratitude as a recipient. She also acts as an ally for those who have different abilities.
“Life isn’t always easy! Of course I have bad days. However, my second chance at life helps me be more appreciative of the gift I was given!”
Nadia is attending Monmouth University and plans to seek out clubs through which she can promote organ and tissue donation.
Stephanie Atenco-Torres – Norristown, PA
Stephanie was just a newborn when she showed acute renal failure and was diagnosed with a chronic kidney disease in July of 2007. She had to have both kidneys removed that year and began dialysis to sustain her life. Stephanie’s father became a living donor so she could receive a transplant when she was 3. She has continued to overcome physical health challenges throughout her young life and has developed great resilience. Stephanie found her voice personally and creatively advocating for herself as an academic and an aspiring fashion designer.
“I make sure that no matter what is happening in my life, I will make it well known that I’m determined to grow as a person and an artist. No matter how difficult an obstacle is to overcome, it won’t stop me because I believe in myself and know that hard work pays off.”
Stephanie is attending LIM College in New York.
Jessica Beth Schwartz Memorial Scholarship
Just a few days after she was born, Jessica Beth Schwartz was diagnosed with a congenital heart defect. Her heart and body began to slow down by the age of 14. But thanks to someone who said yes to organ donation, Jessica was able to experience eight and a half additional years of life.
A total of 83 students have been awarded scholarships since the fund was created in 2003 in her honor.
To be eligible for the Jessica Beth Schwartz Memorial Scholarship, students must be an organ transplant recipient under the age of 25, seniors in high school, or be enrolled in a two or four-year college, university, trade or technical school.
To contribute to the Jessica Beth Schwartz Memorial Scholarship Fund, or for more information on scholarship criteria, visit www.jessiesday.org.
Gift of Life Donor Program
Gift of Life Donor Program, founded in 1974 and headquartered in Philadelphia, is the non-profit, federally designated organ procurement organization (OPO) for the eastern half of Pennsylvania, southern New Jersey, and Delaware. It works with 126 acute care hospitals and 12 transplant centers in its region, as well as hundreds of transplant centers throughout the country, to provide the most comprehensive array of services available in the U.S. to the donation and transplantation community. Thanks to the generosity of its community, Gift of Life has coordinated 14,196 donors and 39,469 organs for transplant, the most of any OPO in the country since the inception of our national donation system in 1988. Overall, Gift of Life has coordinated more than 59,000 organs and more than two million tissue transplants since its founding. One organ donor can save the lives of up to eight people, and a tissue donor can improve the lives of 100 others. In honor of its 50 years of service, Gift of Life is rallying the community to sign up 50,000 more organ donors and provide hope to the thousands waiting for a transplant. Learn more and sign up at donors1.org.