Who We Are

Transplant for Life's Miracles Through Understanding United campaign was initiated in May of 1997 as a non-profit, interfaith effort dedicated to increasing organ and tissue donation. The mission: to build awareness in our religious communities of the critical shortfall of life-sustaining transplants. The campaign was organized through Transplant for Life, which was formed under the umbrella of the Irving Grant Service Center at Temple Kol Tikvah, a 501(c)(3) non-profit corporation.

The Irving Grant Service Center was created in 1994 to honor the memory of Irv Grant, a beloved member of our community known for his selfless devotion to anyone in need of assistance. The Center, responding to the experience of the then recent earthquake, entered into an unprecedented relationship with the American Red Cross. An arrangement was made with the Red Cross to train volunteers at the temple to provide emergency assistance in the event of a natural disaster. Over 100 volunteers were trained in various specialties.

In an effort to expand the reach of the Center, the matter of organ and tissue donor awareness in the religious communities was presented to the advisory board of the Center. The response was unanimous and Transplant for Life's Miracles Through Understanding United campaign was implemented.

Irv Grant’s widow, Doris, and our Rabbi, Steven Jacobs, played a vital role in the early stages of this project’s development by providing advice and guidance in making Transplant for Life a reality. Rabbi Richard F. Address, a leader of the Union of American Hebrew Congregations, came to Kol Tikvah as a guest speaker during the organization’s first mobilization meeting and provided his inspiration.

A determination was made to create a pilot in Southern California involving all four main branches of Judaism.
The Miracles Through Understanding United project experienced success beyond all expectations in 1998. In previous years, less than 10% of all mainstream religious congregations, including the four branches of Judaism, had participated in National Donor Sabbath. As a result of a 5 step-by-step Communication and Confirmation System, an amazing increase of 900% was experienced.