This is a production of WEDU PBS, Tampa, St.

Petersburg, Sarasota.

[music] Coming up, meet local residents who are helping to fund and even operate life changing programs across the Tampa Bay region, and not just during the holiday season.

See how uncommon giving has made a lasting impact for families and individuals, helped by Lakeland Volunteers in Medicine, Children's Cancer Center and the LifeLink Foundation.

That's next on this holiday episode of Florida this week.

[music] Welcome back everybody.

I'm Lissette Campos.

The holiday season finds many local residents volunteering at toy drives and food pantries.

But on this episode, we're sharing the stories of three volunteers whose uncommon giving will be felt well into 2026.

We begin with Mr.

Gary Rosenbaum and the LifeLink Foundation.

On December the 25th, 2025, Gary marked the ten year anniversary of his heart transplant.

Gary helps raise awareness of organ donor registry anywhere and everywhere that he can, even competing in the World Transplant Games in Australia two years ago.

We welcome to the studio, Gary, along with Sherri Day, who is the Public Affairs Manager of the LifeLink Foundation.

Thank you so much for coming in.

Gary, you received your transplant in Philadelphia, moved with your wife to Venice, Florida.

And instead of just forgetting about everything, you connected with the LifeLink Foundation.

That's so wonderful.

- Yeah, I was so blessed to have gotten a transplant, a heart transplant, and I felt I had to give something back and to honor my donor.

And, uh, volunteering for LifeLink was one of the things I could do.

And one of the, you do so many things as a volunteer.

You do public speaking.

You also help explain to doctors and and health professionals how this this works.

Share some of that with us.

And what's your favorite part about being such a champion for the donor registry?

- Yeah, um, you know, uh, LifeLink has given me the opportunity to speak to nurses in the, um, not the operating room, but, um, in the emergency room.

I get to talk to doctors that are there as well.

Um, nurses symposiums, um, just various venues, uh, even going out to manned tables for events to get people to sign up for organ donation.

And it's just just a lot of opportunities.

And with the activities I'm involved with, it just gives me put a face on an organ donation.

- I love the fact that you are such a great example of someone who is an organ recipient, who is incredibly active.

You said that a lot of folks assume that when you receive an organ transplant, you're going to lead a very sedentary life.

That's certainly not your case.

- Yeah, when they told me I needed a heart transplant, it was pretty scary.

Um, you know, they prepped me for it and everything.

I spent 65 days in the hospital waiting for a transplant.

Uh, you know, when I went in there, they told me it was a need for 6000 heart transplants a year in the US, and only about 3000 people get them.

So I was fortunate that I was one of those 3000 people and when I was waiting in the hospital, had a lot of time to think about, was I going to get a heart?

My donor's family.

They're going to lose one, lose a person.

And in my case, they were losing somebody on Christmas Eve.

Um, so it gave me a lot to think about, but my main thought was, what am I going to do if I do get that heart?

I was fortunate enough that I had a person come into my room while I was waiting, and she was wearing a US team USA track uniform, and she mentioned to me about these World Transplant Games, and she even had a binder and she was wearing these medals around her neck.

And I said to her, you know, she started talking about the games.

And I said, well, it seems like it's a good idea, but I don't know if I'm going to come out of here.

And she says, you got to stop thinking about that.

You're going to get a heart, you're going to get healthy, you're going to train for it, and you're coming to the Transplant Games with me.

and we've become very good friends over the years, and I've been to three world games with her.

- Sherri, this must be music to your ears to have someone like Gary really tell the story of organ donation in such a positive light.

- Gary is a rock star.

He's inspirational, I think, to everyone who meets him, and he is an example of someone who received a gift, and he continues to give a gift by telling the positive story of organ and tissue donation.

So we're very grateful for him, for his life, for the life saving gift that allowed him to be here, and for his commitment to helping us further our mission.

- One of the things that you've taught me in preparation for this interview is, um, the importance of the front line organizations, the the Division of Motor Vehicles, the Tax Collector's office.

This is a lot of times the only place where a person can get that question.

They think it's the only place where they can get the question of whether or not they want to be on the organ donor registry.

How can LifeLink Foundation really mitigate that so that you are reaching more people?

What is it that you all are doing?

- So we have a huge public education effort in the 15 counties that we serve.

And you're absolutely right.

99.4, maybe 5% of people who sign up to be organ donors sign up when they get or renew their driver's licenses.

But there's a massive effort to reach more people.

You can sign up on your health app on your iPhone.

If you have mychart at your doctor's office, you can sign up on your Mychart through your patient portal.

You can also sign up at mystorycontinues.com that's our website.

mystorycontinues.com.

People can sign up there.

So there are many places people can sign up.

And we need every name on that registry to help.

The more than 107,000 people nationally who are waiting.

- So many people think of the organ donor donor registry as something that is associated with death.

And you have said that there are organs that can be donated where the the the donor is still very much alive and well.

Talk to us a little bit about that.

- So there are some exciting things happening in the world of transplantation and things people need to think about.

The organ that's most in demand is the kidney.

Most people have two kidneys and you only need one.

And so you could be a person, could be a living donor and donate a kidney.

They could also donate a lobe of the lung or they could donate a portion of their liver.

The liver is the only organ that regenerates itself.

So there are many things people can do.

And a really exciting one is mothers can donate their birth tissue.

So things to think about.

And we're happy to give all of the information.

People want to know how they can be living donors, because you don't have to pass away to donate.

And it would really help get the numbers down on the waiting list.

If people who can donate do so while they're alive.

- Gary, your message to the viewer out there, who's who's listening and not quite sure whether or not they want to be on that organ donor registry, what do you say to them?

- It's the best gift you can give in your lifespan.

Um, it's a mitzvah.

Using a Jewish term, it's probably the best thing you can do in your life.

And I wouldn't be here if somebody wasn't willing to be an organ donor for me.

- Thank you so much for coming in.

- Yeah, I also, um, I do mentor quite a few people to get my story out.

After I went to my first Transplant Games, um, the local newspaper, uh, Herald Tribune wrote an article about me.

And, uh, based on that article, I received a note card in the mail from a gentleman.

And the note card says I'm in need of a heart transplant.

I need to talk to you.

So he had his business card in there.

I gave him a call, spoke to him, and this was during Covid, so I couldn't meet with him in person.

And, uh, he was telling me his history, and it was a genetic defect, and it ran in his family.

And he was kind of nervous about, you know, proceeding with it.

He didn't know what life would be like after the transplant.

And he read the article about me competing in these transplant games as a cyclist and as a runner.

And he's telling me the story where he was a division one lacrosse player in, in college.

And I said, you know, if you, you you get that heart, you'll be as active as I am.

So we've become good friends now.

He's gone to one US Transplant Games and we hope to compete together at the games coming up in Denver this summer.

- Wow!

Well, thank you for all that you do to help raise awareness.

Um, we want to make sure we make it as easy as possible for viewers to know, um, what steps to take, how easy it is, and also to meet some of the other stories, some of the other heroes like Gary.

To learn more about the registry, you can visit.

My story news.com.

We'll be back right after this.

[music] And we turn now to Michael Vahl and the Children's Cancer Center.

This local artist proves that donating your talents can be just as vital to writing a big check for a charity this summer.

The painting that he created for the Children's Cancer Center sold for more than $40,000.

[music] We welcome Michael to the studio along with 12 year old Hannah, who was part of the creative process, and also Britany Rudolf, who is the chief operating officer for the Children's Cancer Center.

Welcome.

I love this story.

It's so wonderful.

Michael, tell us about that painting and how you created it.

And Hannah was a special part of it too.

- Yeah, so it was a dry brush painting of Marilyn Monroe.

The Children's Cancer Center reached out and said, hey, we have one of the kids that would like to be a part of the process.

Hannah and I met up at the center.

We painted for about 30, 40 minutes together and yeah, it sold for over 40, $40,000.

- So take us back to that moment where you're at the event, you're on stage, you're watching them auction this off.

What was it like when you see the numbers go up on what people were bidding for the painting?

- Yeah, it's it's been a wild ride since the first painting I've done for them up until this one.

It was special because Hannah was very sick that day, and she was supposed to meet me on stage and we got word that she wasn't.

And then she actually did end up coming on stage.

She pushed through and the the painting ended up selling, you know, 40,000 plus.

And it was just an incredible moment.

It was very special.

- Hannah, you were backstage, as Michael said, weren't feeling so great.

But when you walked out, the audience gave you a standing ovation.

What was that like for you?

- Um, I don't really know how to describe it, if I'm being honest.

It just like a shock, but, like, not a shock.

I don't know how to say it.

- It was wonderful.

Yeah.

So many families are so appreciative.

And I think that so many folks in our community think that they can't be helpful if they don't have a big bank account where they can write a big check.

Brittany, you know, talk to us about that.

All the all the work that is funded through different people donating to their to the best of their ability.

- Yes, it's so important for us to let the community know that people don't have to just stroke a check they can give by their time, their treasure and their talent.

So Michael has done so in all three of those ways, but there's so many unique ways people can get involved with a local nonprofit such as ourselves in those three different ways.

- Michael, this is not this is not the first time that you've donated a painting to the Children's Cancer Center.

I know that you work with other non-profits, but this one in particular, how did you connect with them?

I love that this was really something that happened by accident, maybe, or got incidence.

Not a coincidence.

Tell us about that.

- Yeah, so they I'm assuming you guys have been doing it way before I joined in like the special art segment of the event.

And I think that the event was two days.

It was coming up on two days and they said, hey, we need a piece of artwork.

Would you like to be a part of it?

And I said, I think I can do it in two days.

And it turned out to be a beautiful portrait of hip hop legend Biggie Smalls and raised some money.

And that was a that was a special one, too.

- And so you were hooked from then on?

- You've come back.

You've done this is your fifth or your sixth one?

- I think it's my sixth.

- Wow, how much money has this young man helped you all raise?

- So between five paintings collectively has helped us raise $100,000 through those paintings alone.

- Wow, tell us about the funding and how far those dollars go.

- Yes, so we are non-government funded.

So we are local nonprofit here, and we serve over 5000 children and their family members battling pediatric cancer.

We do that through financial, emotional and educational support.

We have 30 programs that wrap around every member of the family.

We say when a child is diagnosed, the whole family is really diagnosed.

- Hannah, I'm so happy that you're here.

I know that there are bright lights and you're in.

You're maybe not used to doing a TV interview, but we're so grateful to you.

- Thanks.

I'm glad to be here.

- Is there something that you would like to say to the audience, so that they can consider doing what they can to volunteer for a local organization?

- It really just just being there helps.

It doesn't really matter if you donate something or just just being there.

It just means the world to some kids.

- And the support that you all are doing.

Both of you, by sharing the story of the Children's Cancer Center, also raises awareness of how funding is used and how that helps local families.

Michael, I don't know how you do it, but it seems like every year your paintings just get more and more wonderful.

Was this the highest price tag on any of your paintings for the cancer Center?

- It was a beautiful painting and she did her part on it as well.

It was very special.

And I actually spoke with the the client.

She goes, where does Hannah, where did Hannah do the background?

And I said, see those hearts in the corner?

Those are hers.

And she her heart melted.

She loves that painting.

- Have you painted before, Hannah?

- Um, yes, I have.

Not the best, but I kind of just stopped painting.

Um, I do other art things, like just sketching and stuff and drawing and stuff.

So.

Yeah, I mostly go towards that.

- That's wonderful.

- And she's done some pretty fun art therapy as well at the Children's Cancer Center, working on her craft.

- Well, we want to thank all of you for coming in and helping us share the story of how really volunteering can take any form, and that we can't do everything, but we can all do something.

So thank you for coming in.

Yes.

If you would like to learn more or have more information on how to donate or volunteer at the Children's Cancer Center, here's the information on your screen.

All of that wonderful stuff is on their website.

You can visit ChildrensCancerCenter.org.

[music] We turn our attention now to Isabel Benitez and volunteers just like her at Lakeland Volunteers in Medicine.

Isabel helps Lakeland Volunteers in medicine take care of thousands of underserved and uninsured patients in Polk County.

Because of community helpers, the charity has served more than 33,000 patients to date.

Isabel joins us now from the busy clinic in Lakeland, along with Alex.

Alice Koehler, who is president and CEO of Lakeland Volunteers In Medicine.

Ladies, thank you so much for joining us.

- Thank you for having us.

- We know that.

You all are so busy.

There are the two clinics.

There's the Lakeland Center as well as the clinic in Bartow.

So we knew that if we had you on zoom, at least we would get you to join the show.

Um, tell me about your volunteerism.

Isabel with LVIM.

- Well, I love volunteering here.

Um, I started, uh, eight years ago.

And to me, it's just giving back to the community and showing my light beaming out to others that need it.

Um, it's very important for me, uh, to come here once a week and just, um, show my love, my light.

- You are, uh, you do a couple of things for for at the clinic.

You're an escort for the patients when they come in.

And I'm also told that you help them with, uh, Spanish translations.

Tell us about that.

- Yes, yes.

Uh, that, to me, is very important because, um, medical literacy is very important.

I would I they need to know what is being told to them or um they don't have that.

So um, that knowledge sometimes of the medical is very important.

Um, that's for me that's like number one.

Um, and that makes me feel really good to, to be out there and have them understand when they leave the doors, the medicines they need to take and, um, everything that is told said to them.

- One of the things, Alice, that that I'd love for you to really highlight for our, for our viewers is how important volunteers are to the operation of vim.

You all have about 400 volunteers annually who serve in in different areas.

- Yeah that's correct.

So volunteers is in our name and we take that to heart quite literally.

Um, we serve about about 2000 patients each year.

And the bulk of that work is done by volunteers.

We only have 22 full time staff, so most of the care is provided by volunteers.

But it's not only the doctors and the dentists, it's people like Isabel who make the magic happen and are the receptionists, and they process medical records and the schedulers and everything in between.

Um, so we, uh, volunteers this year so far have given more than 36,000 hours.

Um, and that translates into about $1.7 million in value.

So if you think about I know in a previous segment, you're talking about, like if you don't have a big check to write, there are other ways that can make a big impact.

So if we didn't have the volunteers, we would need a 1.7 million more dollars to make the the care happen for our patients.

- And you don't have to be you don't have to have a background in the health industry.

You don't have to be a retired health professional to volunteer.

- You do not to be a doctor or a nurse.

You do, but not to work in the office.

Yeah.

Yes.

- There's there's different things that you could do that are non medical.

I guess if you will.

I mean you can take in uh, the patients um, or answer the phone even.

Um, so there's a lot of stuff that it doesn't have to be medical background.

There's always something to do.

I came in doing one thing and I've done others.

So it's if you need, if you you have that heart come in.

- And so Isabel, for you.

What what has it been like volunteering.

It seems like, you know, you're surrounded by some really interesting volunteers, co volunteers with you as well as the patients that you meet.

It's it's quite a great support system that you've made there as well.

- It is, it is.

- So it's not so much that I am giving to the community.

When I come here they give to me the, the, the volunteers and the patients and some patients.

I come in on Thursday morning so they, they, they know that I'm here and they'll call or they, you know, so I made a great relationship not so much with the patients, with the the workers and the volunteers.

It's been a great experience for me.

As much as, you know, giving back, I do take some also.

- Alice, it seems like the, uh, the volunteers are like superstars.

Alice, you've told me about the different volunteers that you all have with you.

There's the retired nurse who is from Kentucky.

Correct?

She's been there, retired nurse, 30 years, and then some of the other volunteers as well.

Just amazing people.

- Yes.

They're all they all have incredible stories.

And it's really fun to get to know everyone.

Yes, yes.

Um, I do think, you know, our primary mission is to care for our patients, but we don't we can't do that without our volunteers.

And to watch the difference that our mission also makes in the lives of our volunteers is important.

- That's true too.

Yes.

- We do have a lot of retired individuals.

And, you know, sometimes when you retire, you don't know what to do.

And some people get stuck at home and you know that's not healthy.

So to have a community that can give back to each other as well as to the community really helps, helps with that.

Aging in place.

Um, but then the other side is we about 30 to 40% of our volunteers are also students.

So we have this intergenerational thing going on that's really fun.

Um, and the retired physicians are able to teach up and coming medical professionals, and it's a really cool thing that happens here.

- Well, happy holidays to you both.

Thank you so much for joining us and for helping us spread the news that volunteering is really the best gift, not just for the recipient, but for the giver as well.

Um, to our audience, if you would like more information on more volunteer opportunities, please visit LVI.

That's LVIM.net for Lakeland Volunteers In Medicine.

[music] And that's all the time we have for now.

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- Hi, I'm Master Sergeant Malissa Ross.

Currently deployed in the Middle East.

I'd like to give a shout out to my hometown, Mary Esther, Florida.

Happy holidays to my dad and my kids in England.

- Hello, I'm Sergeant Comber and I'm here at Camp Reedo with 6-9 CAV.

And I want to wish you a happy holidays to my family in Virginia and my brother in Florida.

[music] Hi everybody.

This is Skieshia Church coming to you from Naples, Italy.

I want to wish everybody back at home from Jacksonville, Florida.

Happy holidays.

- Hi, I'm private Harrison, uh, 88th November, transportation movement coordinator, assigned to 635th in Kaiserslautern, Germany.

I want to wish my friends and family in Tampa, Florida a merry Christmas and a happy New Year.

Happy holidays.

[music] - This is Sergeant Robert Harper from Ocala, Florida.

Wishing everyone a merry Christmas and a happy New Year.

[speaking in foreign language] [speaking in foreign language] [speaking in foreign language] [speaking in foreign language] [speaking in foreign language] [speaking in foreign language] - Hey, I'm senior airman De'quan Simmons.

I just want to give a happy holiday shout out to my family back in St.

Pete in Palmetto, Florida, I love you.

[music]