The Jefferson Award is a prestigious national recognition system honoring community and public service in America. Since being founded in 1972 by former First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis, US Senator Robert Taft and Sam Beard, they have been presented both nationally and locally to some of the most deserving people who have embraced and embodied the meaning of volunteerism in this country. One such person is Kate Rosenthal, co-founder of Amy’s Army – a grassroots effort to find a bone marrow match for a young girl from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

In 2003, Amy Katz was diagnosed with leukemia. When Kate heard that news, she knew that she had to do everything in her power to help the family, who were close friends, to find that life-saving match for Amy.  She began the task of putting together a steering committee, comprised of friends and colleagues, business people and parents, to fundraise and coordinate recruitment drives to get people tested and registered with a registry. So began Kate’s journey that has resulted in over 8,000 being screened and 23 matches found. Today, Amy is still without a match, but doing well and keeping the disease at bay with drug therapy.

When asked what receiving the Jefferson Award has meant to her, Kate replied, “It has brought attention to the cause, and will allow us to move forward using this honor to make more progress in the future.” At a ceremony in Pittsburgh, Kate accepted the $1,000 donation to Amy’s Army on her behalf that accompanied this award, and then turned around and bestowed it upon Gift of Life. It is her wish to share her recognition with Gift of life, so that we too may continue the life-saving work that we do everyday, in the hope that someday, no-one will go without finding the match that will forever make a difference in their life.

Gift of Life is thankful for Kate’s friendship and support and is happy to partner with someone so generous. For more information about Kate and Amy’s Army, visit Amy's Army Donor Circle.