2023 Scholarship Winner – Erica Freeman-Swaim
July 10, 2023
Indiana Donor Network Foundation awards $2,000 educational scholarship to sister of local tissue donor hero
Noblesville High School graduate attends Indiana Wesleyan University
NOBLESVILLE, Ind. – Erica Freeman-Swaim’s brother, Jarred, was 23 when he suffered a heart attack on Christmas Eve in 2022. He was kept alive by mechanical support until doctors told the family he wouldn’t survive.
Freeman-Swaim with her family made the selfless decision to donate her brother’s heart valves, veins, bone and skin to help save and heal others.
“Our parents always told us the best way to serve others is to give – give to others before and after life,” she said. “Jarred did that.”
Indiana Donor Network Foundation has awarded Freeman-Swaim a $2,000 scholarship. Each year, the foundation awards educational scholarships to deserving family members of Hoosier 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 Freeman-Swaim. 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.
“My brother gave the best of himself to help others through donation,” Freeman-Swaim said. “I know he’d be pleased that he was able to be a donor and to help others. Being generous is what he valued most in life.”
Freeman-Swaim, a graduate of Noblesville High School in Noblesville, Indiana, attends Indiana Wesleyan University and is studying occupational therapy and hippotherapy.
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 Brodie Forman of Corydon ($3,500). 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.
