A graduate of the University of Oregon School of Law, Nicole Lynn Richardson had a passion for providing legal representation for society's vulnerable populations. Nicole died in an accident in Grand Junction, Colo. on April 25, 2006. Nicole's commitment to organ donation was evident on her driver's license, and as a result her lungs, kidneys, heart, pancreas, liver and corneas have saved or enhanced the lives of seven others. Particularly meaningful to Nicole's family is that a recipient of one of Nicole's kidneys is a long-time family friend. "Being able to see what Nicole's compassion has meant to our friend has brought us considerable peace," her parents said.

Nicole's Story

Nicole Lynn Richardson was born in Iowa December 26, 1978. A graduate of the University of Oregon School of Law, Nicole was an uncompromising crusader for justice with a passion for providing legal representation for society's vulnerable populations, especially indigent criminal defendants. During law school Nicole worked for the county public defender's office, continuing to provide client services when the office was closed during a funding crunch. She performed pro bono work for the Oregon State Public Defender, writing a clemency petition on behalf of a prison inmate.

She was a passionate and engaged law student who was involved in many student organizations, most notably her three-year participation on the Pro Bono Executive Board. Nicole is most remembered at UO Law School for building the school's Street Law program from an idea and developing its first classes in Search and Seizure and Landlord/Tenant Law. In Nicole's memory, her parents established the Nicole Richardson Outstanding Pro Bono Service Award which annually provides a cash award to a University of Oregon third-year law student who embodies the same passion and commitment to underserved populations that Nicole did.

Nicole died in an accident in Grand Junction, Colo. on April 25, 2006. Nicole's commitment to organ donation was evident through the identification on her driver's license of her desire to be an organ donor. Nicole's lungs, kidneys, heart, pancreas, liver and corneas have saved or enhanced the lives of seven others living in Colorado, Iowa, Missouri and even Japan. Particularly meaningful to Nicole's family is that a recipient of one of Nicole's kidneys is a long-time family friend. "Being able to see what Nicole's compassion has meant to our friend, and to be able to sense her living on through him and the other recipients of her organs, has brought us considerable peace," her parents said.

Nicole's parents have also claimed as their own the causes that were important to Nicole. Through an annual golf and auction event in Iowa, they have provided funds to sustain the UO Law School award, to fund an annual training program for the Iowa Public Defender's Office and to support PAWS, an animal rights and advocacy organization. Most importantly, they have provided annual donations to the Iowa Donor Network to support organ donation activities.

"Supporting the Iowa Donor Network is as important as anything we do," the Richardsons said. "Nicole had signed up as an organ donor and we want to build on her recognition of the importance of organ donation. Our goal is to help encourage people to make a personal commitment to being an organ donor. And we want to continue to support organ donation because we have seen first-hand how lives can be saved or improved through the gift of an organ.

"We want to keep Nicole's memory alive; we do it as a tribute to her."