2023 Scholarship Winner – Brodie Forman
July 10, 2023
Indiana Donor Network Foundation awards $3,500 scholarship to local organ transplant recipient’s daughter
Lanesville Jr./Sr. High School graduate bound for Butler University
CORYDON, Ind. – Brodie Forman’s mother, Julie, battled serious ailments throughout her life. Diagnosed with diabetes as a teenager, she lost sight in one eye in her 20s. Her kidneys and pancreas began to fail as a young mother.
She received both a kidney and pancreas transplant. But Julie’s new kidney failed. After a second kidney transplant, her new pancreas began failing. Julie died in 2021 when her daughter was a junior in high school.
“My entire world changed in one morning,” Forman said. “The more I tried to ignore my pain and pretend everything was normal, the more difficult coping became. My mom was one of my biggest supporters, especially with my schoolwork.”
Forman has been awarded a $3,500 scholarship by Indiana Donor Network Foundation. Each year, the foundation awards educational scholarships to deserving family members of Indiana organ and tissue donors, transplant recipients, living donors and others. Recipients often become advocates for organ and tissue donation. The scholarships are funded by the foundation and contributions by Indiana Donor Network employees.
> Download a high-resolution image of Forman. She’s available for interviews. If interested, send a request for her contact information to dbrodt@INDonorNetwork.org.
Those eligible for scholarships include both traditional and nontraditional students who submit an essay describing their career goals, experience with organ and tissue donation and transplantation, and personal goals.
“Without my mom, I would’ve never had the motivation for school or the passion for reading that I do and without her donors, she wouldn’t have been around to inspire me,” Forman said. “I’m forever thankful for the extra time I had with her and I will fight to make my dreams a reality because of her.”
Forman, a graduate of Lanesville Jr./Sr. High School in Lanesville, Indiana, will attend Butler University in the fall and plans to study English with a concentration on literary theory, culture and criticism.
Other scholarships awarded this year by Indiana Donor Network Foundation went to Ainsley Strothkamp of Carmel ($8,000), Faith Curry of Fort Branch ($6,500), Molli Pearson of Chandler ($5,000) and Erica Swaim of Noblesville ($2,000). Read about the other 2023 scholarship winners here.
Despite age or medical history, anyone can sign up to be a donor at DonateLifeIndiana.org. Learn more about Indiana Donor Network.
Indiana Donor Network’s mission is to save and enhance the quality of life through organ and tissue donation and transplantation. Its vision is to be a leader in organ and tissue recovery. Founded in 1987, the organization coordinates donation in 85 of the state’s 92 counties and serves transplant hospitals throughout the U.S.
About Indiana Donor Network
The decision to become an organ, tissue and eye donor is a decision to give the gift of life. Indiana Donor Network serves as the vital link between donors and patients waiting for lifesaving organ transplants, healing tissue and corneas to restore sight. The organization is a federally designated organ recovery organization and accredited tissue bank serving 85 of Indiana’s 92 counties. Its team of more than 285 dedicated professionals is committed to saving and healing lives through donation and transplantation, championing the cause through education and outreach and supporting donor families in their time of need.
About Indiana Donor Network Foundation
As a subsidiary of Indiana Donor Network, the organ recovery organization for 85 of Indiana’s 92 counties, Indiana Donor Network Foundation enhances the lives of those touched by donation through education, innovation, caring and support. The Foundation raises funds through individual contributions, special events and sponsorships to support transplant recipients and the families of donor heroes.
Indiana Donor Network® and the Indiana Donor Network Foundation® are federally registered trademarks.
About Donate Life Indiana
Since 1998, Donate Life Indiana has been the state-authorized nonprofit organization responsible for managing the Indiana donor registry. Its mission is to save lives by creating opportunities for all Indiana citizens to sign up on the organization’s official state registry while striving to raise awareness for organ, eye and tissue donation and transplantation through public education.
