Couple Launches Fundraiser for Organ Donation and Transplant Games

A Community United by Organ Donation

In the United States, more than 100,000 people are currently waiting for an organ transplant. Among them are many Nebraskans who rely on the generosity of donors to save their lives. This is why a couple from Grand Island organized the “Team Nebraska Ice-Cream Social Fundraiser and Bake Sale” on Saturday. The event serves as both a way to raise money and a powerful reminder of the importance of organ donation.

Each day, 13 people in the U.S. die while waiting for an organ transplant. For many, this means that the decision to become an organ donor can be the difference between life and death. Earl Haworth, a 77-year-old heart transplant recipient, knows this all too well. He credits his survival to the kindness of a donor and the unwavering support of his wife, Kat Bortz.

Haworth’s journey began when he developed serious heart issues that eventually required him to live with a heart pump and be placed on the transplant waiting list. His doctors saved his life, but it was his wife who became his main caregiver. “I watched him deteriorate over a matter of weeks,” Bortz said. “I knew I had to take care of him because he would not take care of himself.”

On April 24, 2017, Haworth received a life-changing heart transplant at the Nebraska Medical Center in Omaha. Following his recovery, he participated in the Transplant Games of America, an event that brings together transplant recipients from across the country. Inspired by his experience, Haworth and his wife organized their first “Team Nebraska Ice-Cream Social Fundraiser and Bake Sale.” The goal was to help cover travel expenses for other participants in the Games.

This fundraiser also plays a vital role in raising awareness about the importance of organ donation. Sue Venteicher, a resident of Omaha and living organ donor, shared her own story of giving back. In 2017, she donated her kidney, a decision that began with a desire to help a friend’s son in need. Although she couldn’t help her friend directly, Venteicher chose to donate anonymously to someone she didn’t know. “I wanted to help someone who needed a kidney transplant—not just the person themselves, but everyone who cared about them,” she said.

The “Team Nebraska Ice-Cream Social Fundraiser and Bake Sale” has become more than just an event; it’s a community gathering where transplant recipients from across Nebraska come together to share their stories and inspire others. One such story belongs to Shirley Kramer, a 90-year-old heart transplant recipient. She received a new heart 34 years ago, on October 16, 1991, when she was 57. Her heart came from a 19-year-old donor, and she often refers to it as her “young heart.”

Kramer and Haworth are both members of Live On Nebraska, a Donate Life organization dedicated to promoting organ donation. Their experiences highlight the profound impact that one act of generosity can have on multiple lives.

In recent years, nearly 400 organ transplants have been performed in Nebraska alone. These numbers reflect the growing awareness and commitment to organ donation in the state. As the Transplant Games of America prepare to take place in Denver, Colorado, on June 18, 2026, events like the “Team Nebraska Ice-Cream Social Fundraiser and Bake Sale” continue to play a critical role in keeping the conversation alive.

Organ donation is more than a medical procedure—it’s a gift of life that can change the course of someone’s future. Through community efforts and personal stories, the message remains clear: every person has the power to make a difference.