Midland Park High School Band Earns Award from Donate Life America

Donate Life America presented its prestigious Excellence in Youth Education Award to Midland Park High School (MPHS) for creating a unique way to raise awareness about NJ Sharing Network’s life-saving mission supporting organ and tissue donation and transplantation.

 

MPHS Band Director David Marks collaborated with music composer Taylor Goodson, brother of double-lung transplant recipient Sarah Steinhauser, on a musical overture for the band’s Spring 2022 Concert. Knowing that the entire Midland Park community felt connected to the story of Connor Opderbeck, a 2016 MPHS graduate and heart transplant recipient, “The Gift” was created as a unique composition to express the emotions and experiences of a transplant recipient and celebrate the generosity of organ and tissue donors across the globe.

 

Last year, the MPHS band performed “The Gift” in front of nearly 300 parents and members of the community in attendance. Attendees learned about the power of organ and tissue donation and were encouraged to register as organ and tissue donors. Following the performance, students rode a wave of excitement to create other opportunities to promote organ and tissue donation within the school. Teachers and faculty had a Blue Jeans Day to raise funds to support the Sharing Network Foundation and NJ Sharing Network was featured during an assembly presentation for juniors and seniors.

 

According to United Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS), there are over 100,000 Americans – nearly 4,000 of whom live in New Jersey – waiting for a life-saving transplant. One organ and tissue donor can save eight lives and enhance the lives of over 75 others. To learn more, get involved and register as an organ and tissue donor, visit www.NJSharingNetwork.org.