Hillsborough Graduate Gets Scholarship For Helping To Save Lives

HILLSBOROUGH, NJ — A Hillsborough High School graduate has been awarded a scholarship through NJ Sharing Network for raising awareness of organ and tissue donation.

Zachary Roth, 19, of Hillsborough received the $5,000 Betsy Niles Scholarship for the 2018-19 academic year.

Roth began raising awareness for organ donation after he lost his brother. He was inspired when he received a letter from one of his brother’s organ recipients.

As a result, Roth started a Donate Life Club at his high school. He completed training to become a certified NJ Sharing Network volunteer and learned how to speak to others about organ and tissue donation. In his role as President of the Donate Life Club, Roth managed all volunteer and fundraising activities for the organization. Through that and other activities, he has raised thousands of dollars for organ and tissue donation awareness.

“I’ll never forget the day my brother died,” said Roth, “and I’ll never forget the day I found a reason to live for him. Starting the Donate Life Club – and seeing how far it has already grown – tells me that I am doing something concrete to honor my brother’s life and to help others.”

In 2017, more New Jersey residents donated than ever before, resulting in more than 550 lives saved. Every day, approximately three New Jersey residents are added to the transplant waiting list and last year nearly 100 people died while waiting for a transplant. One organ donor can save eight lives and one tissue donor can restore health to more than 75 people.

(Image via Shutterstock)

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