Meet Beau.

Becoming a living donor has been a profound and life-changing experience.

Hi, my name is Beau and at the age of 60 in 2024 I donated a kidney to my brother-in-law. I did so, quite simply, to help someone I care about to live a fuller, healthier and longer life.

While this was my primary motivation, I have since come to realize that this journey has been as much a gift for me as it was for him. 

This experience has created an incredibly special bond between my brother-in-law and me. It has changed my own health for the better—and possibly lengthened my life—by making me much more mindful about wellness for myself. And it has given me a unique and joyful peace of mind that comes with being a living donor. 

I am dedicated to doing all that I can to advocate for living kidney donation. Toward this end, I helped launch Kindred Kidneys, a San Diego-based collective whose mission is to inspire our fellow citizens to give the gift of life, ensuring that no neighbor waits in vain for a path to recovery. 

My role with ReMend is rooted in support rather than persuasion. I am here to share my personal experience, help demystify the process for potential donors and family members, and provide a safe space for them to ask questions and share concerns.  In a broader sense, my aim is to help potential donors, patients, and families feel more informed, supported, and less alone when it comes to considering kidney donation.   

I am originally from the Washington, DC area and moved to San Diego in 1989. I retired recently after 35 years in fundraising and communications, having worked in leadership positions with the University of California, San Diego, California Western School of Law, and the Anti-Defamation League for Southern California. 

Outside of mentoring and advocacy on behalf of kidney patients and living donors, I enjoy traveling, hiking, reading, gardening, and spending time with friends and family—most especially with my husband and with Reese, an elderly orange tabby who rules our lives.