Paul Hackman

Since his own nearly fatal health failure from Diabetes & End Stage Renal Disease 20 years ago, Paul Hackman has been educating teens, adults, and health care professionals about organ donation, the effects of diabetes and kidney disease, and the prevention of renal failure.

Much of Mr. Hackman's time is now spent as a volunteer for the Kidney Foundation of Greater Cincinnati, and the Ohio Valley Life Center. Each year, he gives 150 to 200 presentations on Organ Donation and Renal Health in high schools, nursing schools, fraternal organizations, churches of all denominations, and in area businesses. His talk has become a major community resource for public and professional education in the Greater Cincinnati area, reaching approximately 7,500 to 10,000 people each year.

He speaks to all area high school students about the choice they have to designate themselves as possible organ donors when they get their driver's license. They are then advised to get their families involved, by to going home and talking about organ donation and the difference that it can make.

He also speaks to 6 and 7 year old elementary school children as part of the "Everybody Counts" program, to teach them that people with disabilities should be treated with respect and understanding.

Mr. Hackman has served on the Executive Board of Directors of the Kidney Foundation of Greater Cincinnati for the last 16 years, and is the founder of the Kidney Patient Council, a support group for End Stage Renal Disease patients and their families. He has served as chairman for Organ Donor Awareness Month in Cincinnati, has served on the boards of the Clovernook Home for the Blind, the Radio Reading Services for the Blind, and had been instrumental in getting House Bill 650 passed, which allows the Uniform Organ Donor card to be a part of the Ohio Driver's License. He is also a Third Degree Knight with the Glenmary Council Knights of Columbus #5674.

Even though Mr. Hackman has had Juvenile Diabetes since age 17, is blind, has had a renal transplant, and lost a leg as a result of his Diabetes, he has continually channeled his time and energy to educate, motivate, and support other members of his community, while others, who are perfectly healthy, claim that they cannot find the time to volunteer.