Lakewood Native Awarded Transplant Scholarship

The Jessica Beth Schwartz Memorial Scholarship is happy to announce that five organ transplant recipients are the winners of its 2019-20 higher education scholarships.

The Jessica Beth Schwartz Memorial Scholarship is funded through the Transplant Foundation, the charitable foundation which supports the mission of Gift of Life Donor Program. Each year, the scholarship program issues $2,500 awards to five transplant recipients. The scholarship was created in memory of heart transplant recipient Jessica Beth Schwartz.

“This scholarship honors my daughter’s legacy and carries her love of learning to a new generation, by helping these transplant recipients pursue a higher education,” says Jessie’s mother and scholarship co-founder, Janice Schwartz-Donahue. “Year after year, I continue to be inspired by challenges that each of these students have overcome in their young lives. All of their stories demonstrate the life-saving power of organ donation.”

Nicole (Nikki) Wolf – Lakewood, NJ

Nicole was diagnosed with Liver Cirrhosis at the age of seven. At just 13 years old she was placed on the waiting list for a liver transplant. After two false calls, in October 2018 Nicole got the call that led to her life-saving liver transplant. She may have missed her senior pictures but she was able to take those and make the most of the rest of her senior year when she returned to school. Her transplant gave her a chance to live without constant hospitalizations, insulin shots and infections. She graduated from Ilan High School in June.

“Looking back, just seven months ago, seems like a lifetime away. I have to credit my speedy recovery to my amazing team who has helped me with everything. I couldn’t be more grateful. Now, I’m taking myself and my new liver to college!!”

Nicole will begin studying to become a Nurse Practitioner at Ocean County Community College this fall.

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 62 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 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 is the non-profit, federally-designated organ procurement organization, serving 11.2 million people across Delaware, southern New Jersey and the eastern half of Pennsylvania. Its annual donation rate ranks among the highest in the world. Since 1974, Gift of Life has coordinated more than 47,000 life-saving organs for transplant, and approximately one million tissue transplants have resulted from the generosity of donors and their families. One organ donor can save the lives of up to eight people, and a tissue donor can improve the lives of more than 75 others. For more information or to register, visit donors1.org.