10-17-2024
I entered Purdue with a mission: build a club for the organization I was passionate about, The Gift of Life, an international public bone marrow and blood stem cell registry.
When I first arrived, I was the only person I knew who was eager to represent The Gift of Life at Purdue and became the only ambassador for the organization in the student body. Now, we've grown. In the past three years, we now have 12 campus ambassadors - students willing to be the face and voice of the organization to raise awareness - and 50 volunteers. Starting and running a club was a hard feat but a rewarding accomplishment.
As a campus ambassador for the non-profit organization Gift of Life, I took the initiative to transform the program into an official club at Purdue, where I now serve as president. By the second semester of my sophomore year, we were officially recognized as a campus organization.
I started Gift of Life at Purdue because I wanted to make a meaningful impact on the lives of those battling blood cancer. Our club is committed to helping individuals with blood cancer by finding life-saving bone marrow and stem cell matches. We achieve this by registering students, who sign up through our events on campus, into the International Bone Marrow and Stem Cell Registry through a simple cheek swab, which increases the likelihood of patients in need of transplants finding a compatible donor.
How to Register Online
Visit the Purdue Gift of Life page. Answer demographic and health questions, provide consent, provide contact info and pay for the swab kit. Students who register at a tabling event on campus can do this for free.
As a general management and marketing major here at the Daniels School, I’ve developed creative strategies to raise awareness about our mission, whether through engaging social media posts, promoting our events, or through presentations. It’s rewarding to see these efforts lead to more donor registrations and enthusiastic participation. On the management side, I’ve learned a lot about teamwork and organization.
Leading the whole team of ambassadors and volunteers can be a challenge, but it’s also incredibly fulfilling. I love being able to delegate tasks and encourage collaboration among our team. Watching new ambassadors and volunteers grow in their roles and seeing how we all come together for a common cause is inspiring. Overall, my studies have helped me run the club effectively while allowing me to pursue something I’m truly passionate about. It’s amazing to see how what I’m learning in the classroom translates into real-world impact.
I transformed the program into an official club to increase our reach and help more patients find life-saving bone marrow and stem cell matches. Seeing how our efforts have led to real-world outcomes, like registering almost 3,000 students and facilitating 18 matches for patients in need, has been incredibly rewarding.
In addition to our registration efforts, we organize events and educational presentations to raise awareness about the donation process and its importance. We also partner with organizations and welcome volunteers to help with our outreach and impact. By engaging the campus community, we aim to expand the registry and provide crucial support to those affected by blood cancers.
Throughout the year, we host various tabling events and presentations, teaming up with all kinds of clubs and organizations, from community service groups to EDM clubs, Greek houses, nursing lectures and more. Last semester, we organized our first mega drive, where we tabled on campus for five days, April 1-5. Despite some challenging weather, we registered nearly 500 students into the registry.
For anyone passionate about making a difference in the lives of those affected by blood cancer, bone marrow diseases or inherited immune system disorders, I highly recommend joining the Gift of Life club. It’s perfect for students interested in community service, public health, or those who want to be part of a motivated team. You’ll connect with a national network of passionate peers and have the chance to volunteer for a meaningful cause. You don’t need a background in health or science—just a willingness to learn and contribute. Whether you want to gain leadership experience, enhance your public speaking skills, or connect with like-minded individuals, being part of the Gift of Life club offers valuable experiences and the satisfaction of helping save lives.
Mariah Ross is a junior from Carmel, Indiana majoring in marketing and general management at the Mitch Daniels School of Business. Ross is a member and executive assistant of the Kappa Alpha Theta Fraternity. She is a marketing & communications photography intern for the Daniels School of Business. Ross is the president of Purdue's The Gift of Life club. After Ross graduates, she hopes to work in marketing or sales for a medical device or healthcare company. She’s dedicated to making a positive impact in the healthcare field and truly hopes to use her skills to contribute to improving people's health and quality of life in any way she can.
