Supporting transplant recipients and caregivers
upcoming Events
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T.L.C. (Transplant Life Care) Meetup hosted by Genie Kilpatrick Foundation
Transplant Life Care (TLC) Sunday, October 25 2:00 PM – 3:30 PM
The Picklr Austin West: 8201 N FM 620, Suite 130, Austin TX 78726
Come join and connect with friends! The goal of TLC is to bring together and build a stronger transplant community by sharing and learning from one another in open conversation. The October TLC meetup is hosted by Marti Barclay (transplant recipient). We’re looking forward to seeing familiar faces and new ones too! Please extend this invite to anyone you may know who is needing some TLC. Everyone in the Transplant Community is welcome!: transplant recipients, caregivers, living donors, donor families, medical staff, transplant org's, etc. Drinks & snacks provided.
get involved
Subscribe to our mailing list and receive invitations and updates from GKF. We would love for you to be a part of our transplant strong community!
Join the GKF community
Provide fitness event scholarships, medical research funding and community building events for transplant recipients.
Donate
The best way to learn more about us and see the impact of our work is to attend one of our GKF events. We’d love to have you join!
Attend Events
We host events on a regular basis and are grateful for our volunteers who serve in a variety of capacities. If you are interested, we’d love to talk.
volunteer
Please consider becoming a donor through the Donate Life registry.
save lives by registering to be an organ donor
Our mission
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Support Post-Transplant Rehab & Fitness
We host fitness-focused events and fund scholarships for the Transplant Games of America.
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Build Transplant Strong Community
We connect recipients, caregivers and community members to educate, empower and extend post-transplant life.
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Fund Transplant Medical Research
We fund innovative research addressing critical needs for transplant recipients.
our inspiration
Genie Kilpatrick, a double lung transplant recipient and gold-medalist lived by a simple motto: Postpone Nothing.
As Genie's biggest supporters, we continue to be inspired by her passion and determination to live her life in honor of her donor's gift.
The Genie Kilpatrick Foundation was founded in order to carry on Genie’s vision that every transplant recipient has the support needed to pursue a healthy and active post-transplant life.
Our Team
Sheri Norris
Sheri Norris, founder of the Genie Kilpatrick Foundation, was introduced to the transplant community when her wife Genie received a double lung transplant, where Sheri served as caretaker. A lifetime tennis player, Sheri competed collegiately at Arizona State University and on the Women’s Professional Tennis Tour before building a long career in tennis sales management. Post transplant, Genie shared five inspiring years with Sheri before passing from organ rejection. That experience led Sheri to start the Foundation with close friends to honor Genie’s legacy and continue advocating for organ donation.
Vanessa Morgan
Vanessa Morgan, an entrepreneur and former IBM Solutions Architect with 35+ years of business experience, helped start the Genie Kilpatrick Foundation to support organ and tissue donation research. Inspired by her mother Lynne’s cancer-related stem cell transplant and its rejection symptoms, as well as friends Sheri and Genie, she is passionate about addressing transplant rejection issues along with supporting recipients post transplant.Vanessa holds an MBA and leads strategic and financial matters at the Genie Kilpatrick Foundation.
Sherry Holdridge
Sherry Holdridge is an entrepreneur and online marketing strategist with decades of experience in e-commerce, branding, and digital campaigns. As founder and CEO of OHSAY USA, she provides entrepreneurial leadership for an online store dedicated to products made in the USA, and earlier built and led the new media department at Tocquigny, a nationally recognized interactive agency. Her longtime friendship with Genie inspires her commitment to grow the Foundation’s visibility and reach. With a personal focus on health and longevity, she applies her marketing expertise to support its mission of advancing transplant research and strengthening the post-transplant community.
Marti Barclay
Marti first joined the transplant community as a patient waiting for an organ transplant at the age of 16. She has extensive experience with the transplant work-up process as a patient after receiving three kidney transplants, two liver transplants, and living on dialysis for 2.5 years. Driven by her curiosity to live the best life possible as a transplant recipient and raise awareness of organ donation, Marti began volunteering by sharing her story with Texas Organ Sharing Alliance (now a part of Gift of Life Alliance), became a member of Team Texas, and the Genie Kilpatrick Foundation. She has found her place by attending and now leading the Transplant Life Care (TLC) meetings. She eagerly anticipates sharing her enthusiasm for living a fulfilling life after transplant and learning alongside others in the transplant community on how to achieve that.
Dianne Arnett
Dianne is a Kidney Transplant recipient whose gift of life came from her sister in 2024.
Dianne began her life of service at age 12 as an active member in numerous non-profit
organizations. She has a private practice as a psychotherapist. She is frequently relied upon by
various judges in the Austin Metroplex and recognized as an expert witness in cases involving
children. Dianne’s focus for the GFK is Community Outreach and her dream is to live long
enough, fight hard enough to eliminate the wait list for patients waiting for an organ donation.
Margaret Marazzo
Margaret’s commitment to the transplant community is rooted in her family’s personal journey.
Her son, Luciano, received a life-saving heart transplant following heart failure caused by a
complex congenital heart defect. Years of medical challenges and prolonged family isolation
gave Margaret firsthand insight into the emotional and practical hardships transplant families
endure—and inspired her determination to ensure that others facing similar journeys never feel
alone. Through her work with the Genie Kilpatrick Foundation, Margaret is passionate about
building a compassionate, connected community where transplant recipients and their families
find meaningful support, lasting relationships, and renewed hope for the future.
Michele “Mich” Rusnak
A lifelong champion of health and wellness, Michele Rusnak spent 34 years in Austin education, culminating in her role as Director of Health and Physical Education. Today, she channels her passion into inspiring others to live vibrant, active lives—whether she’s on the pickleball court, out on the trails, or giving back to her community. After volunteering with the Genie Kilpatrick Foundation (GKF) last year, Mich joined the team as a board member, where she leads the annual Kilpatrick Shamrock SMASH pickleball tournament. Known for her boundless energy, heart, and enthusiasm, Mich brings joy to everything she does with GKF.
Melinda Jackson
Melinda (Mindy) Jackson brings work experiences from community social services, higher education research and program management, and immersive learning and training development for diverse organizations such as the American Heart Association, Harvard Business School, and Whole Foods. In her work and volunteer endeavors she focuses on developing skills and capabilities, improving outcomes, and building community.