A Mother & A Champion
2023 Community Champion - Maria Fernanda Filizola’s Journey
As a result of her experience, Maria became passionate about organ donation and began volunteering for DLNW in 2015. Maria immediately noticed the need to help people in the Latino community understand the importance of organ, eye, and tissue donation. At the time Maria came on, DLNW had a limited reach in the Latino community through Done Vida Noroeste and was in desperate need of Spanish-speaking volunteers. Maria was an excellent volunteer and helped introduce the concept to numerous individuals in the community. Maria’s commitment to the cause and her community did not go unnoticed. In 2018, Maria was hired as the Latino Outreach Coordinator, and then the Community Engagement Manager.
Since her employment, she has focused on improving access to education and resources in both Spanish and English. Through different events in Oregon and SW Washington, she has reached over 11,000 individuals in the Latinx community and individuals from other ethnicities. Maria has translated numerous educational materials into Spanish, including living donation materials, which are now offered in all transplant centers across Oregon. Maria has not only worked hard for DLNW, but she was recently the Chair of the Association for Multicultural Affairs in the TransplantionLatino Workgroup. In this position, she specialized in assisting professionals nationwide in improving their outreach to their Latinx communities.
Maria Fernanda Filizola is the CKF Award Winner for the Community Champion Award. Maria is both a caregiver and Donate Life Northwest (DLNW) employee, who has become an incredible advocate for organ, eye, and tissue donation.
Maria’s transplant journey began about 20 years ago with her ex-husband David, when he was diagnosed with Alport Syndrome. During their marriage, he received two kidney transplants. Maria was David’s caregiver, and supported him throughout the transplant process. Their daughter, Nevaeh, was also diagnosed with Alport Syndrome at four years old; Nevaeh and Maria are now facing the probability that she will also need a kidney transplant. In May 2020, Nevaeh received two tissue transplants in the form of tendons to help combat her diagnosis.
Though her work has primarily focused on improving outreach in the Latino community, she has worked hard to support and celebrate those of all communities, and to ensure a representation of all within DLNW’s team of volunteers. As a volunteer, Maria helps to educate and navigate recipients through the process ,and advocates for them when needed. Maria always brings her daughter Nevaeh to events, and instills a sense of volunteerism and caring into her daughter. Maria also volunteers with NW Kidney Kids, and helps support transplant youth and their families as they navigate the world of transplant.
Increasing the number of minorities registered as organ donors is critical as several minority groups are at a higher risk for transplantation, and often cannot match with individuals not from their ethnicity. The foundation invites you to celebrate Maria and her incredible work for those in the transplant community. Maria will join CKF’s team of Ambassadors, and will continue to work to spread awareness nationwide through education and inspiration, overall increasing organ donation registration.
