Florida Atlantic University Student Named Gift Of Life Marrow Registry ‘Most Valuable Campus Ambassador’

Boca Raton, FL – Florida Atlantic University junior, Jackson Hillman was named “Most Valuable Campus Ambassador (MVC)” by Gift of Life Marrow Registry last night for his outstanding efforts in the community and at FAU recruiting hundreds of potentially life-saving blood stem cell and bone marrow donors to the registry.

Hillman, 20, of Boca Raton, Fla., a political science major at FAU, in Boca, was honored for recruiting more than 600 new donors to the registry at 41 drives during the 2018-19 school year. As a Gift of Life Campus Ambassador, Hillman educated and recruited students to complete simple cheek swabs and join the registry, becoming potential life-saving stem cell or bone marrow donor matches for people battling leukemia, lymphoma, sickle cell, and nearly 100 other diseases.

Gift of Life recognized Hillman at its Campus Ambassador Symposium, which took place July 28-31, at the Boca Raton Marriott at Boca Center convening student leaders from 103 colleges and universities for education and training in donor recruitment.

Transplant doctors seek donors ages 18-35 more than 85 percent of the time, due to clinical reasons that improve transplant outcomes, so Campus Ambassadors play a critical role in facilitating life-saving donor transplants through campus drives.

Since launching in 2014, 540 Campus Ambassadors have volunteered more than 20,200 hours to add 42,350 people to the registry. In all, 230 Campus Ambassadors at 103 colleges and universities will host drives and events during the 2019-20 school year.

Hillman began volunteering for Gift of Life while still in high school, and visited Gift of Life’s headquarters in Boca Raton to pack swab kits for mailing. He became a Campus Ambassador in July 2018. Hillman led Gift of Life’s 15,000^th donor drive since the registry’s founding.

He has also helped Gift of Life’s Community Engagement Team with 10 recruitment drives across South Florida, and accompanied staff to key events.

“He shares Gift of Life’s story wherever he goes, and is always asking what more he can do to help save lives. He embodies our mission and we value his dedication.” said Gift of Life’s Director of Community Engagement Marti Freund.

Hillman is also an active member of FAU’s Hillel of Broward County and Palm Beach, and a member of the National Society of Collegiate Scholars.

“What started as a few sessions of packing swab kits turned into a sense of pride for being part of a larger-than-life cause,” said Hillman. “I joined the Campus Ambassador Program because there is no greater sense of fulfillment than improving the welfare of others.”

For more details about Gift of Life Marrow Registry, please contact Joe Berkofsky, at joe@puderpr.com