Rafael Eli is looking for a kidney donor.

Dear Friends in the Hispanic Marketing Community:

HispanicAd.com has generously offered this opportunity for me to “crear conciencia”, to help to raise awareness regarding the urgent need for organ donation.

Thousands of our fellow Latinos are on long lists awaiting organ transplants. They are literally awaiting the gift of life.

Since many organ recipients know their donor, I wanted to put a personal “face” on the subject.

In my own case, I lost the use of my kidneys early last year (2006.) I have always been an active person and this new situation was definitely not in my plans. I have since started on dialysis and I am dealing with the cards I’ve been dealt.

While at dialysis (3X per week), I have met many other Latinos who are living through challenging situations. Once I was able to get back to work (in my Hispanic marketing business), I decided that I wanted to help get the word out….about the many Latinos who are in desperate need of organs.

Did you know that Latinos tend to over index as organ donors?

Were you aware that you can donate organs while you are still alive? Organ donation requires only a short recovery time and often leaves only a small scar.

Do you know that the donor’s health is THE most important concern to the doctors? For example, they won’t allow you to donate an organ if they think you might need that “extra” some day.

Learn more about organ and tissue donation and how you can donate life.

Please visit the United Network for Organ Sharing Website http://www.unos.org> Once there, click on Donate Life America and then click on your state in the map. You can then sign up online to donate your organs upon death. This will save many lives.

As for me, I am also actively looking for a “living” kidney donor. To read about my personal quest, visit my blog at http://kidneyforrafi.blogspot.com/> where you will see:

– A video, featuring an interview with me that appeared on Channel 11 News, New York (November, 2006). The “healthnews” segment stressed the importance of organ donation.

COMING SOON!

– A news segment on Latinos on dialysis on Telemundo local news in New York. I was interviewed for this segment. Julia Rivera, head of the Hispanic division at the New York Organ Donor Network (NYODN) is also featured.
– A section on organ donation is being launched February 14th (national Organ Donor day) on univision.com. Find me there too!

Should you wish to contact me about donating a kidney or for any other reason, you can reach me at re**@********yc.com or call me at my office at 212 983 0219 or on my cell at 917 836 8151.

Thank you for reading this letter. I wish you all the best of health and much success in 2007.

Rafael Eli
Partner/COO
Schramm Sports & Entertainment

PS. The NYODN is looking for a celebrity Hispanic “spokesperson”. Please call me if you have any suggestions.