Portrait of a TBI Supporter: Rose Marie Lajoie

Rose Marie Lajoie will tell you herself: "I love life and I want people to be happy, to really be able to experience all of the joy of life that is possible for them. TBI's work does that--improves the lives of people all over the world. I really believe in what you do."

Bright, bubbly and exuberant, "Rosie," as she likes to be called, came from the Detroit area to reside in the Ft. Myers, Florida in 1998. Avidly interested in the world around her, she is a voracious reader of books and newspapers. She plays golf and swims. She is an active member of a number of local organizations. A longtime financial supporter of Lee memorial Hospital, she has also made substantial contributions to the Barbara B. Mann Performing Arts Hall where her funding helped build its East Wing.

Always interested in medical and scientific advances, Rosie found out about TBI through former board chair and current board member Karen Sullivan, a neighbor. From her first exposure to the work of TBI, Rosie felt that the organization "is wonderful in the way it reaches out to blind people in this country and throughout the world."

"To be blind, especially after having been sighted, which is true of much of corneal blindness, seems to me a particularly cruel deprivation. After knowing and seeing the beauty of the world, to have it taken away from you is a kind of death unto itself. I can understand why some surveys show blindness is the most feared of all the afflictions. And to someone like myself, who so loves life, I want everyone to experience it fully."

Rosie's first contribution to TBI was to Karen Sullivan's relay team in the 2002 Run for Vision of the Baltimore Marathon., the proceeds of which go to the Frederick N. Griffith Foundation for the Advancement of Transplantation. She contributed again to this year's Run and "now with all the marvelous things happening at TBI in terms of expanded programs, I assume I'll be called upon to give again. I can't think of a better way to direct my support than to an organization providing such critical life transforming services. TBI really does change people's lives moving them from blindness to sight. And with its other tissues, from sickness to health. It's a worthy cause close to my heart and I feel very proud to be involved in it."

And TBI is proud to have Rosie on its team as a great supporter and a loyal friend.

To support the critical sight and health restoring work of TBI, send your contribution to Tissue Banks International, 815 Park Avenue, Baltimore, MD. 21201 or contact kterlizzese@tbionline.org

TBI/Tissue Banks International is a 501(c) 3 Charitable Organization and contributions are fully deductible. The Frederick N. Griffith Foundation for the Advancement of Transplantation is the supporting foundation of TBI. Checks should be made payable to the Frederick N. Griffith Foundation.