Thomas Poliziani grew up outside of Pittsburgh, the second of four boys. He went to Penn State, graduating with a degree in finance and earned his MBA from the University of Pittsburgh. He worked in the corporate office of FedEx in Pittsburgh and was scheduled to marry Pam DiNello in August 2008.

On April 7, 2008, Tom was at the Pittsburgh Pirate’s season opener with his brother and a group of friends. During the game, Tom, an active, healthy 34-year old, was standing in line for the men’s room when he inexplicably passed out and fell straight back, causing severe head trauma. He never regained consciousness and developed severe complications. After a weeklong battle, Tom’s body gave out.

“The day before his last, one of Tom’s nurses introduced us to a woman from CORE,” said Tom’s brother Lou. “At first we didn’t want to hear anything about the death of Tom or someone ‘taking’ his organs. But as my parents, younger brothers, and I sat in a room, we came to a very important decision. During his life, Tom helped people, and this could be a way for him to keep helping others. We were able to donate Tom’s kidneys to two people and prolong his story.”

Tom had been passionate about golf and traveled annually to Florida, Nevada or Arizona to play. After his passing, his family and friends turned Tom’s passion into an annual golf outing via the Thomas A. Poliziani Foundation. The Foundation hosts a golf event each September to share Tom’s story and raise money and awareness for Animal Friends and CORE.

“CORE continues to be a big part of my family’s life,” added Lou. “Everyone we have met has been completely amazing and wonderful. These people are true heroes, dealing with people at the worst times of their lives with compassion and understanding. We have had the opportunity to meet both of Tom’s transplant recipients, and feel a connection to both like no other.”