“I believe it’s so important to be involved in the community because anyone can make a difference in someone’s life. For me, it’s important to speak out about the importance of organ donation and hopefully save a life,” says Amanda Francisca Rougeé, a sophomore at Mount Carmel Academy.
Anita Garza Rougeé, Rougeé’s mother, inspired her to become an activist after her passing. Rougeé made the hard decision to donate her mother’s organs in 2015 to help save other patients’ lives.
Rougeé knew that she wanted to make a difference in the world by educating others to do the same with their deceased loved ones’ organs.
“I have gained strength and maturity through my activism,” she says. “I’ve also gained the amazing feeling of getting to change people’s lives by encouraging them to help others through organ donation.”
In May 2017, Rougeé formed a foundation, Take Heros to Save Lives, to bring awareness of organ donation to children and adults. She has also been highly involved with organ donation awareness through the Louisiana Organ Procurement Agency (LOPA).
With the formation Take Heros to Save Lives, Rougeé was given the chance to give speeches with Donate Life Louisiana and LOPA. She has also been honored with the 2018 Louisiana Young Heroes Award from Louisiana Public Broadcasting and the 2018 Outstanding Youth in Philanthropy award from the Association of Fundraising Professionals Greater New Orleans.
“Receiving these awards and having opportunities to make speeches on organ donation have provided me the chance to share my story and hopefully make a difference in the lives of others,” says Rougeé.
After winning the Louisiana Young Heroes Award, Rougeé was able to share her story and promote organ donation on a national level.
Since Rougeé is a sophomore, she isn’t quite sure where she wants to go to college, but she knows that she wants to continue to run her foundation.
