[JoJo Martin]
“I have a genetic condition called FSGS which stands for Focal Segmental Glomerulosclerosis,” he says. “My oldest brother had it and passed away at the age of twenty nine and left a wife and three sons behind. At the age of thirty one, I’m doing my best to stay ahead of this disease and be as healthy as possible.”
Gift of Hope Organ & Tissue Donor Network is a not-for-profit organ procurement organization based in Itasca, IL that coordinates organ and tissue donation and provides public education on organ donations. “As one of 58 OPOs that make up the nation’s donation system, we work with 180 hospitals and serve 12 million people in our donation service area,” says the Manger of Community Affairs Marion Shuck. “I’ve never had a position where no matter how tough my day or job is, I know that I’m a part of doing good each and every day, as we help change those tragedies to triumphs. Stories such as JoJo’s need to be told so that people see stories of individuals who look like themselves to believe that we do participate in the process, we receive and we donate.”
“Organ donation is chance for someone to give of themselves,” Martin adds. “It’s a chance to help someone live their best life.”
Since 1986, Gift of Hope has helped save the lives of more than 23,000 organ transplant recipients and improved the lives of hundreds of thousands of tissue transplant recipients through their efforts. For more information please visit www.giftofhope.org.
Martin was born on the island of Oahu in Hawaii. The son of a church pastor, he is the youngest of five boys. With some direction from his mother, a trained vocal instructor, JoJo began to develop as a soloist and ended up as a finalist for the NAACP ACT-SO Competition in Houston. He was a featured soloist on Joe Pace and The Colorado Mass Choir’s songs “Just Praise Him” and “So Good.” He has also shared stages with a host of singers such as Tyrese, Fred Hammond, Kirk Franklin, Maroon 5, PJ Morton, Bishop Paul S. Morton Sr., Mary Mary, Frank McComb, Tweet, Dave Hollister and others.
For more information visit www.mortonrcrds.com and follow JoJo on Instagram and Twitter @jojosvoice.
