Sarasota County Tax Collector’s Office raises record-breaking sum of $31,000 for organ, eye and tissue donation education

Tax Collector Ford-Coates and her team won ‘friendly competition’ in state last year, as well

(From left) Sarasota County Tax Collector Barbara Ford-Coates joins employees Lydia Cruz, Julio Cesar and Ana Monix, as well as LifeLink of Florida representative Ashley Moore, to celebrate Ford-Coates’ offices’ raising more than $31,600 in voluntary contributions during April’s National Donate Life Month public education campaign. Contributed photo

On Nov. 1, LifeLink® of Florida recognized Sarasota County Tax Collector Barbara Ford-Coates and her team for raising more than $31,600 in voluntary contributions during April’s National Donate Life Month public education campaign, LifeLink has announced.

“Tax collectors across Florida participate in this dual-purpose initiative every April to increase the number of people who register as organ, eye and tissue donors,” with the goal, as well of boosting voluntary contributions “that support Florida’s organ, eye and tissue donor registry and public education about donation,” a news release explains.

“This is not the first time Ford-Coates’ team has won the friendly competition between Florida tax collector offices, having previously led the state in 2023,” the release points out. “Staff members Ana Monix, Julio Cesar and Lydia Cruz, the top individual fundraisers,” collectively raising more than $13,600, the release adds.

Since the inception of this initiative, the release notes, the Sarasota County Tax Collector’s Office team has raised more than $140,000.
“We’re proud to work alongside LifeLink and Donate Life Florida in raising awareness and helping save lives through the power of organ, eye and tissue donation education,” Ford-Coates said in the release.

Cruz added, “For me, the Donate Life cause is near and dear to my heart. I have two family members who have been saved by organ donation, who both received double lung transplants. This keeps me motivated to raise awareness for such a great cause; we never know what life has in store for any of us.”

Monix also was quoted in the release: “It warms my heart to see how many people in Sarasota County care and are willing to participate.”

“Cesar has a personal connection to organ, eye and tissue donation as well; a donor’s gift saved the life of a close friend,” the release points out.

Today, more than 104,000 individuals in the United States “wait for a lifesaving organ transplant,” the release says. “Over 90% of Floridians who register as donors do so at their local Tax Collector office. LifeLink® of Florida encourages Floridians to register as organ, eye and tissue donors at mystorycontinues.com today, or when obtaining or renewing a driver’s license. For the thousands in need, this simple act offers hope and a second chance at life,” the release points out.

“LifeLink® of Florida is the federally designated, nonprofit community service organization on the front line of saving lives through organ and tissue donation in west and southwest Florida,” the news release explains. “LifeLink collaborates around the clock with local hospitals, transplant centers and the families of organ donors to save lives of patients in need of transplantation each year.” For more information on LifeLink, or to register as an organ and tissue donor, visit www.LifeLinkFoundation.org.

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