Our LI TRIO meetings begin at 7:30PM and are held at

145 Community Dr., Manhasset, NY.

Thank you for joining us at our most cherished event of the year:

LI TRIO's Re-dedication ceremony for the Organ Donor Rose Garden, planted and maintained by volunteers at the Long Island chapter of TRIO-Transplant Recipients International Organization.

Our annual ceremony honored those who have given others new life.

LI TRIO's 2010 Re-dedication ceremony for the Organ Donor Rose Garden was held on Saturday, September 25, 2010 at 12 noon.

Below, Claudia Grammatico, Donor Mom speaks at our Donor Rose Garden Event and calls up Heart Recipient- Joe Senatore.
Claudia Grammatico helps spread the word about the critical need for organ, eye and tissue donors. We honored Claudia and the memory of her son, Paul Grammatico Jr..

Paul Jr.'s life was tragically cut short at age 26 on May 16, 1999, when he was killed by a drunk driver. His gifts meant a new heart for Joe Senatore, who is pictured here with Claudia Grammatico at our event on September 25, 2010. Claudia commenbted that she once carried that heart for nine months! It was a pleasure to see Claudia and Joe together under our tent.

TO SEND A DONATION to Long Island TRIO
Please make your check payable to Long Island TRIO and send it to:
Long Island TRIO
Attention Website Donations -PO Box 81 Garden City NY 11530
We are 501(c)(3) member driven all volunteer not for profit organization. Your generous contribution is tax deductable to the extent allowed by law and will support the organ donor awareness programs and activities you see on these pages.

Senator Kemp Hannon and Long Island TRIO Joint Press Conference:

“This Valentine’s Day- Give Life”

NYS Senator Kemp Hannon and Long Island TRIO held a joint press conference on Valentine's Day- February 14, in order to educate the public about organ donation, correct donation misconceptions and create a greater willingness to donate. Television and radio stations aired the press conference in cycles all day and evening on February 14 and 15, 2008.

Senator Kemp Hannon explained the importance of choosing to be an organ donor and how New York State is working to insure that the courageous decision to be a donor is respected and honored.

“Long Island TRIO is committed to improving the quality of lives touched by
the miracle of transplantation through support, advocacy, education and
organ donation awareness," said Mike Sosna, president of LI TRIO noting
that the group consists of transplant recipients, living donors, donor
families, transplant candidates, professionals and caregivers. I am honored to be among Long Island TRIO volunteers who are continuing and expanding the tradition, goals and the mission of our organization. This mission includes promoting the importance of and need for organ donation.
With almost 9,000 New Yorkers and 98,049 Americans on the waiting
list to receive a life-saving organ transplant, we trust that our volunteer efforts together with the implementation of recently signed laws in New York State will increase activity and registrations with respect to New York State’s “Donate Life Registry”.
Our all-volunteer organization is pleased to provide
information and answers to any and all questions with respect to organ donation
and the New York State “Donate Life Registry”. You can find additional
information by pointing your browser to our website at www.litrio.org.”Michael Sosna continues- “Each day, about 77 people nationwide will receive “The Gift Of Life”; an organ transplant, but sadly, 19 others will die while waiting for a transplant.

One person who donates organs can save up to 7 lives, while a tissue
donor can improve 12 or more lives including actually restoring eyesight.
New York State’s new driver’s licenses will prominently display (on the
front of the document) one’s “consent” to being an organ donor and it is
highly recommended and essential that we all discuss our consent decision with our
families and next of kin.”

The Tietjen’s were presented as an affectionate, happy and healthy Valentine’s day couple as they spoke to reporters and
George Tietjen had no shortage of smiles and laughter as he added:
"Happy Valentine's Day! This is the day every year that we celebrate love. But for me, I celebrate love every year on August 23. That is the day in 2001 when my wife gave a special gift of love to me - one of her kidneys. I was seriously ill with kidney failure and was told by my physicians that it was time to think about dialysis and/or a transplant. In New York State there was, and is a 7 to 8 year wait for a kidney.”

Sue Tietjen was beaming and stated that “I'm happy that I could do something to eliminate the need for a 7-8 year wait, and give my Valentine back his normal life!" Sue and George Tietjen were also interviewed by local and regional media outlets including CBS News 88 as well as News 12 and WLNY. Sue and George Tietjen are also Long Island Transplant Recipients International Organization volunteers.

George Tietjen added that he was “ fortunate that my wife was a match for me and I didn't have to wait. Others who are currently on the waiting list are fortunate that Sen. Kemp Hannon had a plan that may shorten their wait. Because of his and other New York State legislators’ initiatives, if you choose to be a donor, joining the New York State “Donate Life Registry” registers your consent to be an organ donor. As this new law is implemented in New York State, your consent will be considered primary and given the serious weight it deserves. New York State is now a leader in this cause and an example to so many other states.”

Michael Sosna added that “Senator Hannon sponsored a New York State bill (that was signed into law) that provides for an opportunity to make a voluntary contribution to the "Life- Pass It On” Trust Fund to support organ and tissue donation education and awareness. LI TRIO believes that education and awareness efforts will go a long way in saving lives.”

LI TRIO volunteers Tom Bush, Ed Burki, Iris Edelson and Joseph Dioguardi were also on hand speaking to reporters for this media event.
To join the New York State “Donate Life Registry” point your browser to www.litrio.org.

Get Game Give Life" at Madison Square Garden

LI TRIO volunteers also participated in "Get Game Give Life" at Madison Square Garden where St. John's played Marquette on February 21, 2008. We were pleased to help spread the word about the importance of organ donation. Special thanks to all of the Long Island TRIO volunteers, Dr. Lewis Teperman, Jack Powers, Kathryn Dwyer and NYODN staff members.

Special thanks to the many LI TRIO members who volunteered for this event and we will be participating in more events like this in the future. LI TRIO volunteers distributed materials, took care of information tables, and were on center court at half time helping to deliver the message that “Organ Donation and Transplantation” works. We also represented the 98,049 Americans waiting for “The Gift Of Life” as Dr. Teperman spoke about the importance of organ donation and the New York State Donate Life Registry, which is now a registry of consent as opposed to a registry of intent. Once again Madison Square Garden shined bright with green bracelets on thousands of fans and the large public address system delivered the important message that Transplantation Works” and that “Organ and Tissue Donation Saves Lives”.

LI TRIO's Holiday Party

Transplant Recipients International Organization-
Long Island Chapter
PO Box 81 Garden City, NY 11530
Tel: 516.902.8111
Email: mike@sosproductions.com
Website: www.LITRIO.org

An open letter from Mike Sosna:

I would like to invite you to our Annual Re-dedication of our Donor Rose Garden in
Eisenhower Park.

I’m also pleased to report that LI TRIO has adopted our area of Eisenhower Park The garden is maintained exclusively by the hard working volunteers at Long Island TRIO.

Many recipients were thrilled and very lucky to thank Long Island and New York Donor Families for creating a
brighter tomorrow and for giving the gift of life at a most difficult time in their
lives. Donors and Donor families are indeed our heroes. They are lifesaving heroes
who have shared life.

LI TRIO and NYODN honored and thanked Donors and Donor Families as we Re-dedicated our LI TRIO Donor Rose Garden in a ceremony and we are pleased that we had the largest attendance and largest representation of our honorees; our Donor Families who attended the event this year.

Lunch was served and we had 22 extra large picnic tables, large tents, incredibly beautiful weather and an atmosphere of generousity and thanks.

This event honored donors and donor families. The ceremony featured guests and speakers from members of the Nassau County Legislature, New York State Assemblyman Jim Conte, LI TRIO
Transplant Recipients and Volunteers, Julia Rivera from NYODN, and members and staff of other healthcare organizations. We were pleased to have Barbara Musto, Donor Mom- speak about organ donation and share her personal account as well as her experiences with Donor Families and Transplant Recipients. Barbara has reported that she has heard a great deal of positive feedback about this year's special event and that she has been told that the Donor Families appreciated it very much.

With warm regards,

Mike Sosna, President

Directions to the LI TRIO Donor Rose Garden

Going East, North Shore:
LI Expressway or Northern State Parkway East to The Meadowbrook Pkwy, South to Exit M5, Hempstead Tpke, East Meadow/Farmingdale. Hempstead Tpke towards East Meadow to Entrance of Park. Enter Park and go to Parking Field 6A. The garden is next to the Building where the “Women’s Sports Foundation” is housed. (Old Brick Building)

Going East, South Shore:
Southern State Pkwy East to The Meadowbrook Pkwy, North, to Exit M5, Hempstead Tpke, East Meadow/Farmingdale. Hempstead Tpke towards East Meadow to Entrance of Park. Enter Park and go to Parking Field 6A. The garden is next to the Building where the “Women’s Sports Foundation” is housed. (Old Brick Building)

Going West, North Shore:
Northern State Pkwy West to The Meadowbrook Pkwy, South, to Exit M5, Hempstead Tpke, East Meadow/Farmingdale. Hempstead Tpke towards East Meadow to Entrance of Park. Enter Park and go to Parking Field 6A. The garden is next to the Building where the “Women’s Sports Foundation” is housed. (Old Brick Building)

Going West, South Shore:
Southern State Pkwy West to The Meadowbrook Pkwy, North, to Exit M5, Hempstead Tpke, East Meadow/Farmingdale. Hempstead Tpke towards East Meadow to Entrance of Park. Enter Park and go to Parking Field 6A. The garden is next to the Building where the “Women’s Sports Foundation” is housed. (Old Brick Building).

TRIO is represented by the Tree of Life. With its intertwining branches, the Tree of Life symbolizes the intertwining of the lives of two human beings, the donor and the recipient,through the Gift of Life. It depicts growth and new life and reinforces the new beginning transplantation gives to the recipient.

E-Mail Tree litrio@gmail.com LI TRIO Webmaster: Mike Sosna email address mike@sosproductions.com Copyright © 1995-2010 LI TRIO Long Island Chapter LITRIO.org All rights reserved