We are collecting donations to benefit an organ donation charity in memory of MiHail.

May 12, 2006 10:06 AM

We are collecting donations, in cooperation with MetaChat, to benefit an organ donation charity in memory of MiHail. (announcement of MiHail's death at Mefi & MeTa; related mecha post) [mi]
posted by jessamyn to MetaFilter-related at 10:06 AM (30 comments total)

Arse_hat will collect donations via Paypal (click "Send Money")

- For US $ donations the paypal contact is kelly[at]kdmullen.com
- If Canadians want to donate in CDN $ the paypal contact is kelly[at]itgenomics.com
posted by jessamyn at 10:07 AM on May 12, 2006 [1 favorite]

Very nice idea.

May I recommend that the donations go to Baylor University Medical Center. It is one of the top transplant providers in the world and the leader in extensive research to improve transplantation efficacy and options.

You can read about its charity here.
posted by dios at 10:20 AM on May 12, 2006

We have already had donations come in. Thanks to you all. I just wanted to add this note.

In the interest of accountability I will be sharing all the paypal info with taz and dodgy. Other than that all info will stay confidential.
posted by arse_hat at 10:31 AM on May 12, 2006

Thanks for the Baylor link dios. taz has also suggested Coalition on Donation.
posted by arse_hat at 10:33 AM on May 12, 2006

I hope it doesn't sound flip, but I was seriously considering giving money to the Mycological Society of America in her name. I always think of her post when I see portobello mushrooms at the store and thought it was a bit of a tribute to give money there.

Organ donor programs sounds like a better idea.
posted by mathowie at 10:34 AM on May 12, 2006

Thanks for the Baylor link dios. taz has also suggested Coalition on Donation.
posted by arse_hat at 12:33 PM CST on May 12

That might be good. I would recommend considering a transplantation provider and research facility like BUMC over an awareness organization. But that is personal preference. I just always feel that my donations are better spent by people doing the good work and research instead of those organization who may or may not be effectively spreading awareness. I can't prove it, but I've always had the feeling that such donations have more tangible benefits.

But that group may be a good one; I don't know much about it. Whatever people decide to do, its a nice idea.
posted by dios at 10:42 AM on May 12, 2006

Maybe we can get some input from Jade5454 on this... Also, Jade, I wonder if you could email me (my address is in my profile), so that we can have the donation made in MiHail's proper name?
posted by taz at 10:48 AM on May 12, 2006

I would also like a portion of the money go somewhere mushroom related. Sending most of it to Coalition on Donation sound good though.
posted by If I Had An Anus at 11:06 AM on May 12, 2006

taz, it looks like this article (linked by Jade5454 on the front page) is about MiHail, and contains her real name. It should be confirmed, of course.
posted by interrobang at 11:06 AM on May 12, 2006

I agree with dios on BUMC over an awareness place, but that's my personal preference. And I think that, although sweet, the money would be better used at an organ donation chartiy than at a mushroom society.
posted by arcticwoman at 11:38 AM on May 12, 2006

The money should go to good work and research on organ transplants, but spreading awareness on mushrooms.
posted by rxrfrx at 11:40 AM on May 12, 2006

I don't want to beat people over the head with this, but becoming an organ donor is worth much more than a little eBay scratch.

Consider becoming one today.
posted by Mean Mr. Bucket at 11:59 AM on May 12, 2006

Becoming an organ donor is worth much more than a little eBay scratch.

This is a great idea. Here's a link for UK Mefites.
posted by greycap at 12:08 PM on May 12, 2006

For Canadians.
posted by arse_hat at 12:09 PM on May 12, 2006

I'm with dios on the Baylor idea.
posted by knave at 12:13 PM on May 12, 2006

I too prefer a medical/research organization, but hey, there'll probably be enough money to make donations to a few different places.
posted by matildaben at 12:58 PM on May 12, 2006

That's really sweet.
posted by Astro Zombie at 1:01 PM on May 12, 2006

For the Dutch (we know you're out there).
posted by goodnewsfortheinsane at 1:37 PM on May 12, 2006

Like #1, my first thought was for mushrooms. But yeah, organ donations are a little more tasteful... Kinda depends on the type of person she was...

My only twinge with Baylor is that they're a hardcore Baptist organization, and I tend to shy away from donating to folks whose, say, enrollment policies deviate so sharply from mine. Perhaps a similar organization nearer to where MiHail lived? There's also UNOS.org, which does the admin work for organ transplants.
posted by klangklangston at 3:07 PM on May 12, 2006

My only twinge with Baylor is that they're a hardcore Baptist organization,

This is wholly, completely, and libelously false.
posted by dios at 3:14 PM on May 12, 2006

There are two different Baylors.
posted by unknowncommand at 3:32 PM on May 12, 2006

"Baylor's Identity Crisis"

"I thought Baylor had extricated itself from all of this sort of fundamentalist/moderate debacle that everybody had been involved in," Brackney says. "I was wrong about that. In fact, I came probably with still a lot of the war yet to go."
posted by porpoise at 3:34 PM on May 12, 2006

This is wholly, completely, and libelously false.

Um. No it's not.
BUMC link

But its Baptist affiliation does not, to my mind, militate in any way against giving to their organ transplantation program.
posted by kosem at 3:38 PM on May 12, 2006

Baylor University in Waco, Texas is not connected to Baylor Health Care System or its regional hospital which happens to be named Baylor University Medical Center due to a past arrangement.

Baylor University in Waco, Texas is a Baptist University.

BUMC and Baylor Health System are not in any visible or noticeable way a religious institution. They are just hospitals.
posted by dios at 3:40 PM on May 12, 2006

This is wholly, completely, and libelously false.

Um. No it's not.

Trust me on this. It's a goddamned client of mine. BUMC is not part of Baylor University. There used to be a relationship, but it is not owned or controlled by Baylor University or its Baptist mission. That it retains the name leads to the common misconception. No patient of Baylor recognizes it as a Baptist institution. The word "Baptist" is not present anywhere in BUMC. It is wholly inaccurate to call it a "hardcore Baptist organization."

BUMC is a worldclass hospital, and is one of the world leaders in transplantation.
posted by dios at 3:51 PM on May 12, 2006

Agreed, dios.

However: it sounded like you said that Baylor University was not a hardcore Baptist university, which it most certainly is. I don't give a rat's ass where their hospital and medical school figure religiously. Most of my observant Jewish family was born in what can be non-libelously referred to as a "hardcore" Catholic hospital and suffered no ill effects. Giving to BUMC is like giving to Mt. Sinai, both premier hospitals with non intrusive religious affiliations.

/non tiff
posted by kosem at 4:02 PM on May 12, 2006

kosem, I think you misunderstood: as I read it, dios said the Baylor hospital is not (now) affiliated with Baylor University in any way, which means it's not like Mt Sinai, it's more like Random City Unreligious Hospital with no religious affiliation whatsoever.
posted by jacalata at 4:29 PM on May 12, 2006

baylor hospital history (*pdf)
posted by Hat Maui at 5:24 PM on May 12, 2006

I read dios's comment the exact same way and was just about to hop in and correct that Baylor the university is indeed deeply, if not rabidly, Baptist. From one who has visited campus and has family in the area (some of whom have gone to said university), and lots of fun stories that I won't go into. Oh yeah, it's Baptist. And yes, the hospital is a separate entity and not. But there are many organizations with university names that do have the same influences as the university - so this was a valid question, and in light of what I know of Baylor quite valid. And dios, please be a little more clear, use some nouns and perhaps more than one sentence so people know what you're saying ok? One does not need to start flames in a thread that's for a noble cause.
posted by batgrlHG at 5:50 PM on May 12, 2006

Wow, that article mentioned above by Jade5454 and interrobang is quite moving.

It's particularly sad (and a little eerie) because it was a "success story" when it was written in 1997.
posted by GrammarMoses at 2:08 PM on May 13, 2006