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Run/walk to save lives and honor donors, Oct. 18!

J. Kevin Cmunt

Title
Retired President and CEO of Gift of Hope & Retired Executive Director of ITF

In January 2022, Kevin stepped down as Executive Director for the Illinois Transplant Fund (ITF) a position he filled after 8 years as the President and CEO of Gift of Hope Organ and Tissue Donor Network 2012-2020 (Gift of Hope). As CEO, he oversaw a 70% increase in organ donation and 200% increase in tissue donation. He started ITF in 2015 to ensure access to transplant for patients in Illinois ineligible for subsidized healthcare. ITF has helped over 600 patients receive organ transplants. He advocates for the donor families who make transplants possible and is a strong believer in equal access to organ transplant.  

Kevin is currently involved in several organizations and projects to improve organ donation and transplantation across the country: 

  • Organ Procurement and Transplant Network (OPTN) Expeditious Task Force Member 
  • National Faculty Member for the CMS Organ Donation and Transplant Collaborative (ETCLC) 
  • Chair of the Organ Donation and Transplant Alliance Innovation Council and Mentor for the Alliance  
  • Founder of the Better than Dialysis kidney utilization advocacy group 
  • Board Member for Humboldt Park Health 
  • Board Member of ITF 
  • Advisor for several organizations involved in various aspects of organ transplantation 

Prior to his work at Gift of Hope, Kevin was an Executive VP for AlloSource, a non-profit tissue bank. Kevin is the past President of the American Association of Tissue Banks and has served the community as a Board and Committee Member for various healthcare, government, and non-profit organizations.