'you know the grief they're living': foundation supplying care packages to alberta organ donor families
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the andy polanski foundation started a new initiative in december to create care packages for organ donor families.
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although he’s been gone for 12 years, andy polanski continues to help others.
the andy polanski foundation, created in 2014 to carry on his legacy of public service, has a new initiative underway of creating care packages for families mourning the loss of a loved one who has donated their organs. polanski himself was an organ and tissue donor back in 2013 after he was killed in a motor vehicle collision.
“you never expect to be in that situation as a family or with your loved one. in that whirlwind of grief, it was so relieving that he had thought about it. he had talked about. it was almost like hearing his voice one last time,” said polanski’s sister dawn pinder.
“when that situation arose, we knew his answers, and we just know your heart goes out to these donor families. you know the grief they’re living. we came up with a way to give these simple gifts of hope, and hopefully those donor families feel that support.”
gift cards, food, parking passes, toiletry items, pillows and blankets are part of the packages for the family while their loved one is in hospital.
additional items like a memory box, ceramic heart, and a donor recognition medal are also given to family members as keepsakes.
‘simple act of kindness’
it’s all done behind the scenes, and through the organ and tissue donation program. once the family enters the program, the care packages are handled through donor co-ordinators.
“it’s never been about the recognition. it’s just that simple act of kindness and support to those families. we don’t know who they are, and that’s ok, we’re just happy to help and just reach out that hand of support and let them know there are people out there that have gone through the same situation,” said pinder.
the acts of kindness embody the type of person polanski was. the 23-year-old always made an effort to go out of his way to help others — no questions asked, and always with a smile on his face.
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the fatal collision occurred on april 30, 2013, when polanski was driving home to fort saskatchewan on highway 15.
“it was a beautiful sunny day, and andy was just driving home from nait where he was studying to become an electrician. we got the call, and an officer came knocking on my parents’ door, and all of a sudden you’re thrown into a nightmare,” recalled pinder.
“we’re all rushing to the hospital thinking it’s all going to be ok, but it wasn’t. you’re left thinking, ‘why did this happen?’ you have so many questions, but his injuries were just too far, and there was nothing else anyone could do.”
five days after he died, his organs and tissues helped change the lives of five people in the edmonton area.
his lungs helped an alberta man with end-stage lung disease. his kidneys ended struggles for two people on dialysis. a man with end-stage heart disease was given his heart. his liver and pancreas gave a mother the opportunity to watch her children grow.
his donated tissues improved the lives of 75 others.
“proud and honoured’
“andy’s sunset became someone’s sunrise that day, and we’re really proud and honoured that andy could help those people. we still live in grief, but it has brought a lot of light just knowing he’s helped those people and impacted their lives in a big way.”
over the years, the foundation has helped bring life to many of polanski’s goals and dreams. the young man always wanted to build a playground for kids, so in 2015, they unveiled “andy’s playground” in fort saskatchewan.
they’ve created several academic and leadership awards for students in his community, and they host an evening of hope event to raise money for organ donor families.
pinder said the foundation is in place to not only help those affected by organ donation, but also to spread how important it is to have a conversation about organ donation—no matter how tough of a topic it may be.
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“it’s a conversation that needs to happen. you need to tell your loved ones what you would like and it doesn’t have to be a dark and grim conversation,” said pinder.
“andy’s wasn’t. it was in one of those moments while he was playing cards with our family, and it just kind of came out of nowhere. it can be just letting your family know. we want to just start the conversation, and that’s already saving lives.
“if one person hears it, and has a conversation, signs their donor card or registers online, we’ve helped, and andy’s helped again.”
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this article was originally published in the edmonton journal on may 12, 2025.
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