HUMANE CHARITY SPOTLIGHT

Anatomic Gift Foundation & the International Institute for the Advancement of Medicine

Most people know that they can help humane health charities through generous contributions of money or time, but a lesser-known way to support the eradication and treatment of human disease without harming animals is through posthumous body donation. Two charities that recently have been awarded the Humane Seal, the Anatomic Gift Foundation (AGF) and the International Institute for the Advancement of Medicine (IIAM), are dedicated to providing valuable human bodies, organs, and tissues to medical researchers and students.

Maryland-based AGF was started in 1994 after its founders recognized the need of donated human tissue for use in medical research and education. AGF helps donors rest with dignity while making an important contribution to science. At present, AGF is developing a state-of-the-art research facility adjacent to its donation center to allow scientists, clinicians, and educators from all over to perform research and hold classes in a technologically advanced, centrally located setting.

IIAM was founded in 1986 to fill the need for human organs and tissues to develop treatments for diseases and provide hands-on training in medical education. Its organ division recovers whole, nontransplantable organs, and its anatomical division recovers tissues from whole-body donors; both divisions provide these essential donations to medical research facilities. IIAM distributes these donations to organ procurement organizations, tissue banks, hospitals, hospice programs, funeral directors, and individual donors throughout the United States to make sure they go where they will help the most.

Both AGF and IIAM work with potential donors and their families prior to death to alleviate any concerns and plan for post-mortem wishes. Donations are treated with the utmost respect and care, and AGF and IIAM assist involved parties throughout every step of the process. In addition to the significant benefits body donation provides to the medical community, AGF and IIAM also cover many of the costs associated with the end of life.

Body, organ, and tissue donation is vital for researchers to make breakthroughs in fighting AIDS, Alzheimer’s, cancer, heart disease, hepatitis, and a number of other diseases. To learn more about body donation and the research it facilitates, please visit www.AnatomicGift.com and www.IIAM.org.

Humane Charity Spotlight Archive