Jay Gulotta was a funny man with a great passion for life and love for his family. A friend recalled: "We all knew Jay as a funny guy who kept us laughing. He was creative, inquisitive, musical, and at times, a macho Italian stallion, but always caring and sensitive.”

Jay met his wife Anne on a blind date, and they married exactly one year later. He was a family man who loved to cook, play the drums, and attend his children’s sports events. Anne found it difficult to stay mad at him because he was so humorous, and he had an unconditional love and trust with his children.

Jay died suddenly on May 8, 2002 at age 47. "As a family, we had talked about organ donation," Anne said. “Our decision to donate was helped by Gift of Hope. They kindly explained the organ donation process to us. It was their compassion, kind words, and thorough explanation that convinced us organ donation was the right thing to do.”

Jay donated his heart to a 55-year old man, his left kidney to a 42-year old woman, his right kidney to a 16-year old girl, and his corneas and tissue to improve their quality of life. A few months after Jay died, Anne received correspondence from Jay's left kidney recipient Julie Bieneman, followed by flowers at Thanksgiving and Christmas. Julie and Anne quickly bonded, and in August 2005, Anne met Julie in her hometown of Havana, Ill.

"I ran to her and I didn't want to let go,” recalled Anne. “Then I asked her, ‘Where's Jay? I want to see Jay.’ She put my hand on her scar and I touched it." That weekend, Julie introduced Anne to her friends and family. "I quickly learned that organ donation has a ripple effect. So many lives have been touched through organ donation."

Donor families and recipients rarely get to meet each other. For Anne, Julie is a testimony that Jay lives on; for Julie, Jay is her hero, because she would have died without the gift that Jay gave her. It has encouraged Anne to speak out about organ donation. "It's a part of my life now, and a passion.”