2025 Hero Award
Winner - Living Kidney Donor and One Kidney Club Founder Patty Graham
Patty Graham, a living kidney donor and tireless advocate for organ donation, has been nominated for the prestigious Hero Award from the Chris Klug Foundation. Nominated by Jen Reeder (Rock 1 Kidney), Elaine Pearlman (Waitlist Zero), and Ian Waller (Broadcom Inc.), Patty is being recognized for her extraordinary dedication to saving lives and building a global community of living donors. The Hero Award honors individuals who go above and beyond to advocate for and inspire organ, eye, and tissue donation.
Patty’s journey began in 2017 when, inspired by her sister’s earlier kidney donation and an Ignite talk in Boulder, she donated her left kidney to a stranger. That single selfless act launched a kidney chain that saved three lives. But for Patty, that was just the beginning.
Since her donation, Patty has become a national force in the organ donor community. She has personally mentored over 360 kidney donors, and responded to more than 7,000 inquiries through her work with the National Kidney Donation Organization (NKDO) and the National Kidney Registry. Her mentorship often continues late into the evenings or weekends, offering potential donors guidance, encouragement, and resources every step of the way.
In 2018, Patty founded the One Kidney Clubs, which have since expanded to all 50 U.S. states, Canada, and Australia. These community-based groups offer support, friendship, and inspiration to both potential and existing donors. Her leadership helped grow the Colorado chapter to over 300 members, and has offered emotional support and practical help, from delivering meals to organizing donor-only Zoom gatherings during the pandemic.
Patty’s influence extends beyond her mentorship. She organizes donor participation at awareness events such as the Denver Kidney Walk, VegFest, and the Colfax Marathon to show that kidney donors can live active, adventurous lives. In 2022, she joined 21 other donors to summit Mount Kilimanjaro on World Kidney Day – a feat featured on Good Morning America and a symbol of living donors' vitality and strength.
"She’s the beating heart of our kidney donor community,” said Jen Reeder. “She inspires people, connects them, supports them, and makes sure no one walks their journey alone.”
A tireless advocate, Patty also uses speaking engagements to raise awareness about organ donation, including giving her own Ignite talk in Boulder titled “Lessons from Lefty.” She turned 50 in May 2025, making the timing of this nomination all the more meaningful to her community of supporters, who hope to celebrate both her milestone birthday and her incredible legacy.
