Share the Beat

Fund- Raising Event Hosted by Robert and James Redford 2008

When we met James Redford in 2009, covering his Share the Beat fund-raiser for the James Redford Institute for Transplant Awareness, he had recently received a liver transplant. His thankful spirit and zest for life were unmistakable. Our editor-in-chief and CEO, Lisa Burwell, wrote after the event, “James is the physical embodiment of humility and gratitude. He is serious about his foundation’s mission and its mandate to raise awareness about organ and tissue donation. ‘Most people avoid this topic,’ he said, ‘as they don’t want to admit they will die, similar to how many perceive life insurance.’ He recounted how, in his twenties, he learned that he would need a liver transplant and said that he was amazed by the power of human generosity.” Thank you, James, for extending that generosity to many others through your work. Our team was privileged to have met such a talented and genuine man. James passed away on October 16, 2020, and our deepest sympathies go out to the Redford family.