For 35 years, Danny Eschief worked as a tribal recreation coordinator with the Gila River Indian Community — specifically the Akimel O’Otham group. His daughter, Debbie Eschief, says people were easily drawn to him, and that’s how he was so successful in bringing the community together through sports.

He had a community-first mentality, helping others even after passing.

“We never really talked about organ donation in our Native culture and our traditions,” Debbie says about when she learned her father registered himself. “He just said, ‘If somebody can use it, I rather somebody benefit.’”

Danny’s decision to give others a second chance helped more than 20 people, combining donated skin tissue, bone tissue, corneas and organs.

“I think he would be happy that he was able to help other people,” says Debbie.

ECHO Donate Life is a two-week national outreach effort in July. Its focus is to bring diversity and inclusion to the forefront of organ, tissue and cornea donation and the experience of people touched by these gifts, such as recipients, donors and donor families.

Help us ECHO Donate Life! Register your decision to be a donor at DonateLifeAZ.org.