Taylor Storch of Coppell, Texas was always known as a caring, giving young woman.

“Taylor was so giving of her time and so open to help,” said Taylor’s father Todd Storch. “My daughter was an amazing kid, and she touched the world in merely 14 years more than a whole lot of people would their whole lives.”

But no one could’ve guessed that her greatest gift would involve saving lives through organ donation.

“Taylor was able to save 5 people,” said Storch.

What started as a family vacation for the Storch family quickly ended with the loss of their daughter in a ski accident and a heartbreaking, but vital decision.

“When we knew what we were dealing with, when we knew what we were faced with, and the rep came in and asked if we would consider organ donation the answer was yes,” said Storch. “I mean, Taylor was such a giving child. It was like, well of course we’ll do that, so there was no hesitation at all.”

Through the loss of Taylor’s young life, donor recipients received a new lease on their own. Seeing this outcome has prompted Storch’s family to make what they say is a much needed change in organ donation education.

“There’s a lot of misconceptions about it, and the main reason is just the lack of information,” said Storch.

Ron Earl of LifeGift, a Houston-based not-for-profit organization, knows all too well the importance of organ donation education.

“Every 13 minutes another patient is added to the list for a life saving transplant, and unfortunately 17 to 18 people die every day just waiting and never afforded that opportunity for that second chance due to the lack of availability for that organ transplant,” said Managing Director of LifeGift Ron Ehrle.

This is where the Storch’s want to make a difference. Their vehicle for change is Taylor’s Gift, the organ donation education program named after their daughter.

“We want to increase awareness and make organ donation from a supply side go away specifically by educating the youth,” said Storch. “We’re going to do that through school systems, churches and camps. We want to help this generation end the need for organ donation.”

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Before the dog days of summer set in, the Highland Village Rotary Club in Texas is celebrating its 2nd Annual Paws for a Cause Dog Walk.

“Its a wonderful event,” said German Short-Hair Rescue Member Steve Mackey. “I didn’t really realize it’s as big as it was.”

This event is about more than just walking dogs. It is a family friendly event focusing on fun and fund raising.

“We believe in fund raising and getting together and focusing our efforts on activities that are going to raise funds for different needs in the community,” said Highland Village Rotary Club member Angela Kreig.

The Rotary Club’s Paws for a Cause not only focuses on human needs in the community, but animals needs as well.

“Our first dog walk last year, we adopted approximately 14 dogs and found new homes for them so this year we’re trying to beat that,” said Kreig.

For Donna Goldfeder and Brooke Rojas, attending this event is bittersweet.

“We came out in memory of our son and brother that passed away a year ago who was a life resident of Highland Village and supported rescue dogs,” said participant Donna Goldfeder. “We heard about the rotary walk and we thought we needed to do that for him and HV.”

Knowing that they’re continuing Douglas Owens’ support of rescuing and caring for dogs keeps Owens’ mission alive. These actions, along with the efforts of all the volunteers , can guarantee that here, every dog will have his day.

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