NMDP's Get in the Game Program Hits 2,000 Donors, Secures $1M Endowment
Event summary
- NMDP's Get in the Game program surpassed 2,000 registered donors who have donated blood stem cells or other life-saving cell therapies.
- The Andy Talley Get in the Game Collegiate Recruitment Fund reached $1 million, ensuring long-term support for the program's growth.
- The program has engaged over 450 athletic teams nationwide and inspired more than 236,000 young adults to join the registry since 2008.
- Morgan Johnson, an 18-year-old basketball player at Assumption University, became the 2,000th donor after matching with a patient in need.
The big picture
NMDP's Get in the Game program exemplifies the power of leveraging collegiate athletic communities to drive lifesaving donor recruitment. The $1 million endowment secures the program's future, while the NMDP Coaches Council ensures its momentum. This initiative aligns with broader trends in nonprofit healthcare, where community engagement and grassroots efforts are crucial for expanding access to treatments.
What we're watching
- Program Scalability
- Whether the $1 million endowment can sustain the program's growth and expand its reach to more collegiate athletic programs.
- Donor Engagement
- How the program's grassroots recruitment efforts will continue to inspire and engage student athletes and their peers.
- Impact Measurement
- The pace at which the program can increase the number of lifesaving transplants for patients facing blood cancers and other blood disorders.