Long Island Community Spotlights Life-Saving Organ Transplant

Long Island Community Spotlights Life-Saving Organ Transplant from Daughter to Save Her Father

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Friday, January 5, 2024
CONTACT: Madeleine Rosen, donatelifenys@berlinrosen.com, 347.809.0791
Kim Devlin, kimdevlin2011@gmail.com, 516.510.3001

Ahead of kidney transplant next week, Rallye BMW GM Matt Carlson and his daughter raised awareness about the importance of registering to be an organ donor and encouraged other New Yorkers to give the gift of life

In Nassau County, Long Island, only approximately 40% of eligible residents are registered organ and tissue donors, trailing far behind the national average of 64%

Long Island, NY (January 5, 2024) – Today, leadership from Rallye Motor Company, Donate Life New York State, and the New York State Automobile Dealers Association joined Long Island residents to raise awareness about the life-changing impact of organ, eye, and tissue donation. The event spotlighted Rallye BMW General Manager Matt Carlson, a local grandfather of four, and his daughter, Stephanie Carlson Trotti, who is selflessly donating her kidney as a living donor to save her father’s life. 

Matt will be receiving the kidney transplant on Monday, January 8, and both will then start the post-surgery recovery process. Following his recovery, Matt is looking forward to dedicating his time to helping more New Yorkers understand the importance of registering to be an organ donor.

I’m dedicating the rest of my life to raising awareness of the organ and tissue registry to get more New Yorkers to sign up.

Matt Carlson, Kidney Recipient and General Manager of Rallye BMW.

“I’m so fortunate that I’m able to help my dad live a longer and healthier life. Donation including my kidney to my father is much more a gift than a sacrifice,” said Stephanie Carlson Trotti, Kidney Donor and Matt’s Daughter.

More than 103,000 Americans, including nearly 8,000 New Yorkers, are currently on the waitlist for a life-changing organ. In Matt’s home state of New York, while nearly 3,300 New Yorkers were saved in 2023 through organ donation, roughly 400 people on the transplant waitlist die each year due to a shortage of donors. And in Nassau County, Long Island, only approximately 40% of eligible residents are registered organ and tissue donors, trailing far behind the national average of 64%.

While Matt was fortunate enough to find a living match in his own daughter, he knows that this is sadly not the case for thousands of New Yorkers who are counting on a potential match from a registered organ donor to save their life. 

“Matt’s story reminds us that organ donation can impact anyone, and that no one can predict if, or when, we might need an organ transplant to save our life,” said Aisha Tator, Executive Director of Donate Life New York State. “Currently, over 7.5 million individuals across the State are registered organ and tissue donors, but we need the support of the remaining 14 million to accomplish Donate Life NYS’ mission of ensuring that every New Yorker in need has a chance at a healthy life alongside their family, friends, and community. Each new registered donor can save 8 lives and help heal 75 more through eye and tissue donations. I believe in the generosity of New Yorkers, and I am confident that as New Yorkers learn more about the impact they can make by registering to be an organ and tissue donor, they will rise to the occasion to become someone’s hero.”

“I am passionate about this cause and wanted to put the full weight of Rallye Motor Company and our family of employees to not only support our colleague Matt and his daughter Stephanie, but also to do the important work of raising awareness for organ and tissue donation,” said Juliana Terian, President and Chief Executive Officer of Rallye Motor Company.

“Matt and Stephanie are an example of what makes this Long Island community so special. At an incredibly hard time for their family, they’re both stepping up – to care for their family, but also to care for the entire community by helping raise awareness about the power of organ donation,” said John Flanagan, Chair of Board of Directors of Donate Life New York State. “I wish both of them the best in their recoveries, and know that their continued efforts will help save the lives of New Yorkers and Long Islanders.”

“There’s no reason New York –  the Empire State – should be below other states, New York has to do better. We got involved because of the need and all of us have to do more – tell your friends, see if they have the heart on their driver’s license, and talk to them about getting registered,” said Robert Vancavage, President of the New York State Automobile Dealers Association.

New Yorkers can register to become organ donors at DonateLifeNYS.org/register.

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About Donate Life New York State

Donate Life New York State (NYS) is the statewide non-profit organization dedicated to increasing organ, eye, and tissue donation in New York State. Our goal is to ensure a life changing transplant for every New Yorker in need. Since 2002, we’ve served as the voice for New York’s organ, eye and tissue donation community, bringing together recovery organizations, health professionals, community organizations, and people whose lives have been touched by our mission. Donate Life NYS operates the New York State Donate Life Registry under contract with the State of New York, and advances organ, eye, and tissue donation through public and professional education, Registry enrollment campaigns, legislative advocacy, social and behavioral research, strategic partnerships, and collaborative forums with the greater donation and transplantation community.

About Rallye Motor CompanyTrue luxury automotive lies in simplicity. And the art of simplicity lies in the details. For the past 65 years, Rallye has meticulously perfected this vision for you. We invite you to experience the impeccable service that has become synonymous with Rallye. Step into one of our dealerships and discover a perfect curation of all the amenities you would expect from a New York Luxury Auto Group with the service you deserve from our four outstanding luxury brands – Acura, BMW, Lexus and Mercedes-Benz. We bring automotive excellence to Roslyn, Westbury, Glen Cove and the North Shore Long Island area. For more information, please go to https://www.rallye.com.