From Dorm Rooms to Donor Drives: Gift of Life Saves Lives

About This Project

Summary

Twenty-nine years ago, Gift of Life Marrow Registry founder and CEO Jay Feinberg survived leukemia thanks to a perfect match from a drive held by college students. Today, the nonprofit's CAP initiative, founded in 2014, has empowered 1,918 students across hundreds of colleges to recruit blood stem cell and bone marrow donors. These student-led swabbing campaigns have boosted lifesaving matches, diversified donor pools, and raised public awareness, demonstrating the power of student activism.

Goals & Objectives

With thousands of blood cancer patients searching daily for a matching donor and less than half finding one, the CAP initiative was created to increase the pool of potential blood stem cell and bone marrow donors, particularly among young, healthy, and diverse individuals.

Results & Impact

The program, now the registry's top recruitment method, has grown it to 480,174 donors. Since 2014, CAP interns registered 222,799 donors, found 6,471 matches, and facilitated 697 lifesaving transplants. A global model, it gives students lasting pride as their recruits save lives for years to come.