LifeSource honors 2026 Donation Advocacy Award recipients during Donate Life Month
Annual awards recognize individuals and organizations advancing life‑saving organ, eye and tissue donation across the Upper Midwest
MINNEAPOLIS (April 24, 2026) – In recognition of National Donate Life Month, LifeSource today announced the recipients of its 2026 Donation Advocacy Awards, honoring extraordinary individuals and organizations whose leadership and dedication are expanding access to life-saving organ, eye and tissue donation across Minnesota, North Dakota and South Dakota.
The annual awards recognize champions across the full process of donation — from hospital care teams and transplant leaders to donor families, educators and community advocates — whose efforts help ensure that donation opportunities are honored and that more people receive the transplants and healing they need.
Behind every successful donation and transplant is a complex, time‑sensitive collaboration involving hundreds of people. Care teams act with urgency, families make generous decisions during unimaginable moments and advocates work year‑round to inspire donor registration and awareness. The Donation Advocacy Awards spotlight the individuals and teams who make that collaboration possible.
LifeSource, a community‑based healthcare organization headquartered in north Minneapolis, partners with hundreds of hospitals, transplant centers, Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) county offices, funeral homes and community organizations throughout the Upper Midwest. These trusted partnerships are essential to honoring donor decisions and supporting families with dignity and compassion.
“Organ donation does not happen by chance—it happens because people step up,” said Kelly White, CEO of LifeSource. “Every day, more patients in our region are waiting for a transplant that could save their life. These honorees are leaders in every sense: at the bedside, in the community and beyond. Their commitment moves this work forward and helps make more second chances possible.”
2026 Donation Advocacy Award Honorees
This year, LifeSource is proud to recognize the following 2026 honorees:
Ambassadors of the Year
Jayson and Michelle Pautzke, Donor Parents
Recognized for sharing their family’s story to inspire hope and action.
Pay It Forward Award
Melodie Lane and Kevin Anderson, Donor Parents
Honored for transforming personal loss into lasting advocacy and generosity.
Youth Education Champion
Chris Lacy, Personal Wellness Teacher, Chanhassen High School
Recognized for empowering students with knowledge about donation and health.
Community Connectors of the Year
Tish Rivera-Cree, Indian Health Board
Barb Drew, Metropolitan Urban Indian Directors
Honored for building culturally grounded connections and increasing awareness in Native communities.
Small Hospital Partner of the Year
Alomere Health – Alexandria, MN
Recognized for excellence and compassion in donation support within a rural care setting.
Large Hospital Partner of the Year
Abbott Northwestern Hospital
Honored for sustained leadership in collaboration, clinical excellence and family‑centered care.
Care Team of the Year
M Health Fairview Emergency Medical Services
Recognized for critical, time-sensitive care that helps make donation possible.
Career Impact Award
Dr. Bhargav Mistry, Transplant Surgeon, Sanford Fargo
Honored for a career dedicated to advancing transplant care and patient outcomes.
LifeSource Legacy Award
Susan Mau Larson
Recognized for a lifetime of leadership and lasting impact on organ donation advocacy.
Each honoree reflects LifeSource’s shared belief that donation is an act of compassion, connection and hope. Their work brings the organization closer to its vision of a future where everyone says yes to donation, and no one dies waiting for a life‑saving transplant.
Additional photos and b-roll are available upon request.
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About LifeSource
LifeSource is the non-profit organization dedicated to saving lives through organ, eye and tissue donation in the Upper Midwest, serving more than seven million people in communities across Minnesota, North Dakota and South Dakota. We are relentlessly pursuing a day when no one dies waiting for a life-saving transplant. Learn more at Life-source.org.
For media inquiries, please contact:
Sarah Sonn, Communications Director
415-806-1467; ssonn@life-source.org